Inga M. Potter, 96, died peacefully on May 25, 2023, after a brief illness at the Central Vermont Medical Center.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, in April, 1927, to Swedish immigrants, Inga was the youngest of three children.
A clever and talented artist, musician, actress and poet at an early age, Inga spent many hours in her mother's art studio and listening to her father's string quartet. There she developed a solid appreciation for and understanding of sculpting, painting and classical music which would last throughout her long life.
Her mother was a student of the famous Swedish sculptor, Carl Milles, who became a close family friend and great influence on Inga's future artistic pursuits. In her late teen years, she studied at the prestigious art school in Gothenberg, Sweden.
Inga married Olin Potter in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1949, making her home shortly thereafter in the quiet suburb of Wilbraham. She was active in the Springfield Artist's Guild and the Wilbraham Women's Club, and was an actor, makeup artist and costumer for the WilbraHams, a local theater group. Inga participated in several art shows, and had the honor of exhibiting her own one-person show at The Eastfield Mall.
In 1972, Inga and Olin moved to the mountain home they had designed and built in Waitsfield, Vermont, which would be their home for the next 40 years.
Inga was an active member of the Poetry Society of Vermont for decades, penning over 400 poems, serving in nearly every position on the PSOV board, and was editor of the PSOV's biannual publication, The Mountain Troubadour. Though not a poet, Olin served as treasurer of the PSOV and greatly enjoyed accompanying his wife to the PSOV luncheons. Inga published her own book of poems, as well as contributing to the book "Pebbles In The Stream,", a collaboration of the Mad River Poets group she had started.
In 2012, the couple sold their Vermont home and downsized to condo life in Lebanon, New Hampshire. There, Inga and a dear friend formed a small, independent poetry group which met once a month. She and Olin traveled extensively, until declining health put an end to their foreign adventures.
When Olin passed away in 2021, daughter Shari moved to Lebanon to be a companion to her mother. During that time, Inga continued to be a prolific poet and painter.
In 2022, Inga and Shari moved back to Vermont, settling in Berlin. By then she could no longer paint, but she greatly enjoyed her adult coloring book creations and was an avid reader.
Inga was predeceased by her husband, her siblings and daughters Britt and Kristin. She leaves her daughter Shari Potter of Berlin, grandson Trevor Gaylord (Kate) of Moretown and two cherished great-grandsons, Lincoln and Emmett. She also leaves close family members, both here and in Sweden and France, dear friends and, of course, Molly and Garry, her constant fur-companions.
Inga had a full, loving and very happy life, and was married for nearly 72 years to Olin, her 'anchor'. She adored her grandson and his family, and was so happy to move closer to them. She was a gentle soul who tried only to see the goodness in life. She loved all forms of art, gardening, sailing, reading, singing. She was a wonderful mother, friend, and roommate. She will be sorely missed, but leaves us all full of rich memories.
Interment and memorial services have yet to be determined, but as the COVID pandemic prevented a service for Olin, the two will most likely be combined.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, Granger Road, Berlin.
