Vanessa Lyons, 44, of Denver, Colorado and Maynard, MA, passed away on March 14, 2016. Born Ettie Vanessa Lyons, on December 2, 1971, in Landover, MD, she was the daughter of the late Robert E. and Ettie M. (Dyer) Lyons. She graduated from Maynard High School in 1989 and went on to study poetry and classic literature at Western Washington University. Vanessa was a student of life and an adventurous world traveler, leaving Maynard shortly after graduation traveling through Europe, India, across the United States and Mexico. Vanessa always made new friends and charmed many on her journeys. Known for her generous heart and carefree style, she was beloved and admired. Vanessa was an avid reader, a writer of poetry, and a master scuba diver. She loved to cook and most importantly was an advocate for equality for all persons as well as the rights and humane/ethical treatment of animals. She is survived by her brother Robert Lyons and his wife Rosalie Piemonte of Salisbury Beach, MA and Matthew Lyons and his wife Mary-Ellen of Littleton, MA; her niece Jessica Bosse and her sweet angel Sophia Rose, nephews Jacob Bosse, Connor Lyons, and Evan Lyons. She will be dearly missed by her beloved aunts and kindred spirits, Velma Laws of Durham, NC and Kathryn Lyons of Acton, MA and her uncle, Dick Lyons of Franklin MA. She will be lovingly remembered by her cousins and their children as having a generous and carefree spirit who lit up a room with laughter, and with whom she enjoyed family holidays and many Lyons Salisbury Beach reunions. The family would like to thank Vanessa's many friends for their outpouring of love and support and shared memories. We are enormously comforted by your kind words and prayers. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday April 1st at 10 am in St. Bridget Parish, One Percival Street, Maynard. Visiting hours at the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center will be held on Thursday March 31st from 5 to 8 pm. Contributions in her memory may be made to World Wildlife Fund (worldwildlife.org) or the Farm Sanctuary (farmsanctuary.org). Arrangements are under the care of the Dee Funeral Home of Concord.