Victoria B. Purdum

LEWISTON - In loving memory of Victoria Bermudez Purdum - a wonderful woman, wife, mother, sister, and friend. Victoria leaves behind a legacy of kindness, love, joy, and a passion for the ideas she believed in.

Born on December 5, 1964 in Silver Spring, MD - Died 3/21/24 in Lewiston, ME, surrounded by family and friends. While those dates are important, the life that Victoria lived in the dash between dates is so much more important.

Victoria moved to Maine at age 23. She was an avid hiker and biker, she climbed Mt. Katahdin six times, she cycled the Trek across Maine, became an emeritus Master Gardener, and generally had a great love for Maine. Victoria fervently believed in plant based nutrition and for treating everyone with kindness.

She passed from this earth in light and love, unafraid, and knowing that she is being reunited with spirits and Universal Love.

Victoria was diagnosed with Limb onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in May of 2022. She fought strongly since her diagnosis to help work toward a cure and help others by participating in research trials and giving support and guidance to others facing the same disease. She raised awareness of ALS through her YouTube channel, Victoria Battles ALS, and was a mentor with I AM ALS to other ALS patients.

Victoria was predeceased by her father, Albert D. Purdum, Jr., her mother, Consuelo Bermudez Purdum, sister Theresa Purdum Hicks, and niece, Jennifer Hicks. She is survived by her wife, Trudi Chase, and two sons, Nathan Blanchette and John Blanchette.

She leaves behind her loving sister and brother, Cristina Purdum and Michael Purdum, with whom she shared many joyous memories. Along with two nieces and a nephew (Elizabeth, Melissa and Michael Jr.), her lifelong best friends Marcella Wolfe and Margo Kalel and Benji her beloved pooch.

She lived a wonderful life together with Trudi Chase, who was the love of her life. They got married at sunset on a beach in Key West where they were joined by dear family and friends from Miami and Maine. They enjoyed traveling and having adventures, including a 19-day train trip across Canada and a recent trip to Roswell, NM for the UFO festival before the ALS disease progressed too far.

Victoria will be incredibly missed by her smile, her laughter, and the joy she brought to her family and friends. No amount of time with Victoria would have been enough, but her family and friends are endlessly thankful for the time they had to experience her kindness, her warmth, her laughter, and her love.

There will be a celebration of life with close friends and family on March 30 @ 1 PM at Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 30 Alfred Plourde Parkway, Lewiston, ME 04240.

She asks that her friends and family return some of her ashes to the earth. The rest of her ashes will be placed in a niche in the mausoleum at St. Peter’s cemetery in Lewiston at a later date. She asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Compassionate Care ALS, Feeding America or your local ALS organization.