Avon Virginia Oakes

Florida – Avon Virginia (Cheel) Oakes passed away on October 1, 2022 at Covenant Village in Plantation Florida, surrounded by family, after having moved to Cooper City Florida to be closer to family in 2011. The daughter of Leonard A. and Esther (Johnsen) Cheel, she was born on October 28,1928 in Providence RI, and raised in RI and Massachusetts, close to her Scandinavian roots and family.

Avon attended Bates College and was the first in her family to go to college,graduating in 1951. Later Avon received her Master in Education from the University of Southern Maine. She moved to Maine in 1952, when she married Robert Oakes. She lived in Falmouth and Portland for 60 years. Avon began her professional career working for the Girl Scouts in Boston in the early 50’s, and continued as a Scout Leader for years after moving to Maine. She was a teacher in the Westbrook School System until her retirement in 1995, teaching fourth and fifth grades and eventually adult education alongside her husband, Robert.

Avon belonged to, was a servant leader in, a choir member of and soloist at the Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland Me, from 1952 until she moved to Florida to be closer to family in 2011, when she joined Davie United Methodist Church in Davie Florida.

In church, she was active in the choir, youth education, many committees and charities, and bible studies. Her strong faith was evident in everything she did. Avon gave her heart and soul to everyone, and had many lifelong friendships. She profoundly loved her family, Maine, children, nature, her heritage, and her close friends. She rejected no one, and loved unconditionally.

During her years in Florida, she was a member of her condo board. As an avid watercolorist, she began a painting class at the Cooper City Community Center that continues to thrive today. She traveled extensively later in life, and spent a good deal of time in the Netherlands, Michigan and Florida visiting her children and grandchildren.

Her husband and beloved partner Robert died in 1995; she is survived by her children Thalie Oakes and her husband Paul Lewin of the Netherlands, Anders Oakes of Cornish, Maine, and Eric Oakes and his wife Ann Whitehouse of Cooper City, Florida. She is survived as well by her loving grandchildren Kristina Jackson of Bath, Maine, Casper and Zoe Kliejwegt of the Netherlands, Amber and Connor Pepin and Molly Oakes of Maine, and Oscar Bergeron-Oakes of Phoenix, Arizona, Olivia Bergeron-Oakes, Eddie Mulvaney and Amanda Mulvaney of Cooper City Florida.

A memorial service will be celebrated at Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodford St, Portland, ME on Saturday October 22 at 10:00am followed by interment at Oak Hill Cemetery in Auburn, ME.

Memorial contributions in Avon Oakes' name may be made to either the Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society.