SANFORD — Jody Elizabeth Vlodek Berren, 39, of Sanford, was called to heaven Jan. 17, 2014 after a courageous, 7 1/2-year battle with breast cancer. Jody passed away peacefully with her husband by her side.
Jody was born in Waterville on March 20, 1974, the only child of Ken and Sandy (Foster) Vlodek.
She attended Waterville schools and was a 1992 graduate of Waterville High School. Jody attended Keene State College in Keene, N.H. and was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. Jody received a bachelor’s degree in home economics/nutrition in 1998.
In August 1993, Jody met her beloved husband-to-be, Fred, and they dated the rest of her college career.
Upon completion of her dietetic internship at the University of New Hampshire, Jody passed her Registered Dietitian exam and she began her career in the field of dietetics. Jody was highly respected in her industry by her peers and clients in both New Hampshire and Maine. For the last six years, Jody was a registered dietitian for Home Health Visiting Nurses in their diabetes education program (previously SMMC VNA).
Jody was an active member of Curtis Lake Christian Church. She loved her church family and found the services extremely helpful in her fight against cancer and her pursuit in being the best person she could be. Jody volunteered in the nursery once a month and went on a life-changing mission trip to Romania in 2012.
She was preceded in death by: her mother and best friend, Sandy; grandfathers, Edward Vlodek and Shirley Foster; and a special cousin, Jeanne Vicnaire.
Jody is survived by: her loving husband of 14 years, Fred Berren, son Colby and daughter Brooke, all of Sanford; her father, Ken Vlodek and his fiancée Sally Gould of North Vassalboro; paternal grandmother, Beatrice Vlodek of Waterville; maternal grandmother, Millie Foster of Hallowell; and aunts and uncles, Joyce and Scott Atkins of Oakland and their five children, Kathy and Jeff Tardiff of Windsor, and Cathy and Mark Foster of Northboro, Mass. and their three children.
A celebration of Jody’s extraordinary life will take place on Saturday at Curtis Lake Christian Church, 38 Westview Drive in Sanford. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 10-11:45 a.m. A memorial service will begin at noon, followed by a reception. An interment service will be held in the summer at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville. Local arrangements are through Black Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com.
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