Armanell Marie "Tootie" McDevitt

SPENCER: Armanell Marie "Tootie" (Hemenway) McDevitt, 81, of Spencer, died Saturday, July 18th at Traditions of Dedham after a long illness. She leaves her son; Michael J. Haglof of Dedham, her daughter; Beth Ann Lapierre and her husband Matthew of Salem, NH., her brothers; Thomas H. Hemenway and his wife Nancy of Lantana, Fl. and James A. Hemenway of Spencer, and her granddaughter; Ella Marie Lapierre. Marie was born in Worcester, the daughter of Francis and Blanche (O'Coin) Hemenway and later graduated from David Prouty High School in 1963, Bridgewater State College in 1967 and earned her master's degree from Worcester State University. She was a member of Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish, former member and chairperson of the Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee and a former board member of the Spencer Rescue Squad. For more than 30 years, Marie devoted her life to the children of the Spencer-East Brookfield community as a teacher, principal, mentor, and lifelong advocate for education. She believed every child deserves to feel valued, encouraged, and capable, and she had a remarkable gift for making each student feel seen. The lessons she taught extended far beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic. Through her kindness, patience, and unwavering belief in others, she helped shape generations of young lives. Her legacy lives on in the thousands of students she inspired, the educators she mentored, and the countless adults who still remember the teacher who believed in them when they needed it most. Her Funeral will be held on Friday, July 24th from the J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terr., Spencer with a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 Church St., Spencer. Burial will follow in Mary, Queen of the Rosary Cemetery, Spencer. Calling hours are Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of MA/NH, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452.