Obituary: Vera Ann (Wentworth) Northrop

Vera Ann “Ve” Northrup, a lifelong Union resident and beloved community figure, died peacefully in a local hospice on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at the age of 95. She passed after a brief bout of pneumonia, surrounded by family members.

Born Vera Ann Wentworth on August 23, 1931, in Union, the daughter of Harold Sanborn and Sara Alice (Hilt) Wentworth, she was the valedictorian of Union High School’s Class of 1949. After graduation she attended Gates Business College, a decision that set the stage for a career that spanned several states and sectors. Her first post was with Sea and Shore Fisheries in Augusta, Maine, followed by a stint at the Togus Veterans Affairs Center. In 1970 she moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she worked for the National Labor Relations Board until 1991.

In 2006, after more than two decades in Tennessee, Vera and her husband, Clayborn “Clay” Northrup, returned to her hometown. They settled back into the Payson Road house that her father had built, a place where Vera had spent her childhood and, later, her life. “We were home again,” she told a family friend, “and it felt right.” Clay had passed away in 2014, but the couple’s shared love of dancing remained a cherished memory. The two first met at the Clary Lake Dance Hall in Jefferson and continued to dance together through the years, a testament to their lifelong partnership.

Vera was a woman of many interests. A dedicated reader, she was an active member of the Union Library Book Club and enjoyed classic television series such as Masterpiece Theatre and Perry Mason. She also loved the outdoors—skiing, bowling, and horse shows were regular pastimes, as were the local stock‑car races that drew crowds to the town’s track. “She was always up for anything that brought people together,” said her daughter Rhonda Gillis, 55, who lives in Jefferson.

Family was at the heart of Vera’s life. She is survived by two daughters: Rhonda “Rhondie” Marie Gillis of Jefferson and Wendy Rae Northrup of Portland. The family also includes former son‑in‑law Daniel “Danny” Gillis of Bermuda Dunes, California, and son‑in‑law Gerard “Gerry” Zarrilli of Portland. Three grand‑children—Chelsea Rae, Johnathan Clay, and Christopher Daniel Gillis—share her memory, along with great‑grandchildren Eli and Ellie. Step‑granddaughter Amelia Violet Zarrilli and step‑great‑grandchildren Canio and Audrey Mosby are also part of the extended family.

Vera’s siblings—Phyllis “Phid” Day, Sara “Sally” Moore, Harold “Brud” Wentworth Jr., and Joel “Jody” Wentworth—along with their families, and many friends, mourn her loss. She was predeceased by her husband Clay, infant daughter Lorna Ann, sister Beatrice “Betty” Byrd, and her parents.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. in the People’s United Methodist Church, 21 Depot Street, Union. A reception will follow at Sennebec Farm, 323 Sennebec Road, Union. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hall Funeral Home in Waldoboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Vera’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, an organization she supported in her later years. For more information, visit https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.

Vera “Ve” Northrup will be remembered by friends and family as a vibrant, loving, and joyous “Grammie.” Her spirit of community, her passion for learning, and her boundless energy left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She “kept loving, living, and learning to the very end,” a sentiment that will echo in the memories of those she touched.