Hartwell, Lucy B. of Wayzata is finally again with her beloved husband, John; brother David Bell; and parents Charles and Lucy Bell after a challenging bout with esophageal cancer. She leaves behind four children, David Hartwell (Elizabeth De Baut), Jill Geoffrion (Tim), Lucy Heegaard (Jeff), Charlie Hartwell (Maureen Pelton); 12 grandchildren (who knew her as Muppa), Suzanne, Jason, Courtney, Beau, Tim, Dan, Jennifer, Chad, Jason, Lucy, Marae and Charlie; as well as eight great grandchildren; and many friends who were fortunate enough to be part of her family and feel her love.
While her body struggled with the effects of the cancer treatments, she faced her decline with grace and determination. Despite weakness, she continued giving back including working at the Interfaith Outreach food shelf whenever she could. She absolutely could not pass a homeless person with a sign looking for spare change without stopping and contributing - explaining to her family that if even one out of a hundred of the gifts made a difference, it was worth it. Nothing would give her more pleasure than if everyone reading this were to stop at the first person asking for a handout and give them $10.
Lucy loved travel and the outdoors made her happy. Her favorite trip was the three months she spent with her husband in the mountains, fjords and forests of Chile. She visited at least 80 countries, most of the time chasing birds, ending up with 4,043 on her life list. She loved fly fishing and always got the big one, including a 48", 30-pound muskie caught on a fly rod rigged for 3-4 pound Small Mouth Bass with a mono line on the St. Croix and a 33" rainbow trout with an 18" girth in Patagonia.
Lucy was a lifelong supporter of the community, especially things that made a difference for children and the environment, always done quietly. She was so taken with the plight of the Hmong refugees after the Vietnam War that she and her good friend Gloria started a store, Hmong Folk Art, to benefit Hmong textile artists and the Hmong community generally. Her final charitable act was to donate her body to science knowing that sharing the body she would no longer need could still benefit others.
Lucy made everyone she met feel special. She was amazingly attuned to the secret pain of others and then offered support. She never wanted attention but loved others getting in the spotlight. She was well-known for writing warm, heartfelt notes of thanks and encouragement to family, friends and strangers. She smiled widely, laughed joyfully, and loved generously. In these, and in so many other ways, Lucy taught us all how to love more deeply and freely.
A service to celebrate her will be held on February 4th at Wayzata Community Church at 3:00. Nothing would please her more than if those attending wore colorful clothes.
Lucy asked that memorials be given to the Belwin Conservancy, Northside Achievement Zone, Project Success, Twin Cities Rise or Youth Frontiers.
Published on February 3, 2019
