Folsom Funeral Service

Melinda Lamb Theodore, of Westwood, Dec. 6. Beloved wife of the late James P. and dear mother of Kimberly Theodore Kennedy, and her husband Sean Kennedy, of Westwood, and Christopher Theodore of Westwood. Proud grandmother and beloved “Oma” of grandsons Nicholas Brian, Theodore Andrew, and William James Kennedy; dear sister of John Nicholas Lamb of Amherst (Valerie), NH and J. Dayne Lamb of Boston (Gardner), MA. 

Melinda was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother whose favorite thing in life was spending time with her family, especially anywhere her three treasured grandsons were, and who were the apple of her eye. Melinda could most often be found on a ballfield or hockey rink where she passionately and tirelessly cheered all 3 of her grandsons on.

Melinda enjoyed a 40-year storied career as a reporter and editor for nationally recognized newspapers and magazines throughout the country and completed her career tenure at Babson College in Wellesley, MA as the longtime editor of their college magazine for 25 years.

Melinda formed many friendships throughout her life, including members of her beloved Westwood community, at Babson, and upon retirement. She never put her reporter’s mind with pen or notebook down and enjoyed honing her writing skills by attending a local writer’s group, and continued to work on her memoirs while reading voraciously throughout. She loved to cook, bake, sew and knit and was the true renaissance woman, having gone back later in life to obtain her Master’s Degree in Management from Lesley University.

Melinda was a longtime patron of the arts and never missed a concert or art opening, and her stack of books and magazines on her night table never dwindled. Melinda loved to go to dinner with her family, attend the latest Boston Symphony Orchestra, MFA and Athenaeum exhibits as a longtime patron, and screen the latest movies while fitting in traveling near and far with her husband. As a Northern California native, she especially loved being at the beach and enjoying the ocean air while feeling the sun on her face. The storied Muir Woods and her local town’s ocean in Pacifica, CA, was one of her favorite and most beloved locations. 

Besides providing her grandchildren with tremendous never-ending love and copious life advice you could always find her hosting them for sleepovers,  lumberjack breakfasts and cookouts at her summer house on Cape Cod with her beloved Jim. 

Melinda was a staunch advocate of women’s rights and a longtime LWV member throughout her tenure in Westwood and enjoyed volunteering her time at the local polls.

In her retirement, along with her late husband Jim, she spent countless hours at her grandsons’ school and sporting events and was their biggest fan, often celebrating with ice cream as the grand finale. 

Melinda was a voracious reader who loved to visit the local library several times a week with her husband, and was always busy planting flowers or going for leisurely rides for ice cream with her beloved husband. Melinda loved cooking for her family and her avgolemono chicken soup, Swedish meatballs, spinach pie and buttercream frosting were legendary. She loved getting woken up by her husband every morning with a delicious cup of hot coffee. 

Her smile, deep blue eyes and hearty laugh were infectious, and many of her humorous phrases and aphorisms always elicited smiles from her friends and neighbors. The Theodore-Kennedy family would like to thank Sunrise Assisted Living of Norwood’s entire staff for the profoundly dedicated and loving care they provided Melinda. Visiting Hours Monday, December 19 from 4-7 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High St., WESTWOOD. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Tuesday, December 20 at 10 am at the Folsom Funeral Home followed by interment in New Westwood Cemetery, Westwood. Donations to Sunrise Assisted Living at 86 Saunders Road,  Norwood, MA 02062 would be appreciated. 

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