WELLS- Beverly Stein Sampson peacefully departed this world on Thursday, March 30, 2023, surrounded by family and friends and bathed in love and prayers. She was 72, and had waged a valiant battle with liver cancer and cirrhosis in her final months that ultimately led to liver failure.
After slipping into an unconscious state on Monday evening, Bev, as she preferred to be called, entered hospice care at home in Wells, ME on Tuesday. She held on until her last remaining sibling, Mary, and her daughter and grandson, arrived from Maryland on Thursday to say their goodbyes.
Beverly Jean Stein was born on Jan. 6, 1951 at the naval hospital in Kittery, Maine to Frank Robert Stein and Jeanne Beatrice Nephew. She was the youngest of her four sisters and half-brother.
An avid reader, who enjoyed biographies, especially of women artists, Bev grew up in South Portland and later in Lubec, ME., where her father worked as a customs officer at the international bridge to Campobello, Canada. She regaled us with stories about her youth climbing trees in the woods, ice skating on frozen ponds, frequent trips to the library and learning how to make homespun clothing from her mother.
When she was nineteen, after a stint at Unity College, she pursued further adventures in New York City. Here she met her future husband and life-long love, Peter Sampson. Together, they enjoyed a life of spiritual exploration, artistic expression, and far-ranging travel from the peak of Machu Picchu to the Cape Breton Highlands of Nova Scotia.
Bev and Peter later settled in West Orange, New Jersey, where they raised two beautiful children, Alicia and Julian. Bev worked as a senior field representative for the US Census Bureau, and had a unique gift to make instant connections with all whom she met. She continued her artistic pursuits in sculpting, painting and assembling collages throughout her life.
Bev developed a deeply spiritual practice as a Buddhist in the New Kadampa tradition that was first nurtured years earlier during her journeys of inner exploration at the New York Pathwork Center. Later in life, she made a pilgrimage to the Manjushri Temple in northern England.
She returned to Maine in 2017 after her retirement to live closer to her children and grandchildren, Wesley and EmmaRay. Bev encouraged their creativity through art, costume making, storytelling and performances. She could never correctly remember the title of a movie, but easily recalled memories, mundane and profound, of the precious moments she spent with her children. She was known for always speaking her mind and loving with all her heart. We will miss her generosity of spirit, her infectious laughter, and her joyful (though not pitch perfect) singing.
We are all left a little more enlightened for the time we have spent in her inimitable presence.
Bev’s ashes will be dispersed off the coast of Maine later this year.
Bev’s beloved Kadampa sanghas in Portland and Boston will be holding two powa ceremonies this month.
A powa is the practice of transference of consciousness of those recently deceased to a higher rebirth or to the Pure Land of a Buddha.
The ceremony is about 45 minutes with a short introduction from Resident Teacher Gen Khedrub, who will share some words at the beginning helping us develop a mind of compassion and explaining the practice.
If you feel called we invite you to bring a personal offering (food, drink, flowers, etc.) to place on the offering table which is a common Buddhist practice in certain ceremonies. We will give these away to people at the end of the powa.
You need not be a buddhist practitioner to attend or participate in this ceremony. All friends and family are invited to join us. If you cannot attend in person, the Boston powa will be live streamed on zoom.
Details:
Friday April 21, 2023
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Kadampa Meditation Center Boston
2298 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
Topic: Powa for Bev
Time: Apr 21, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9855370591?pwd=UHpwaUMrbldSejVrSExFdVVVL1h5UT09
Meeting ID: 985 537 0591
Passcode: KMCBpujas
Tuesday April 25, 2023
6 PM to 8 PM
Kadampa Meditation Center @ Portland New Church
302 Stevens Ave.
Portland, ME 04103
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com