Lee Gabriel Lemal, 61, died on May 8 at her home in Norwich surrounded by her family. She had fought a courageous year-long battle with lung cancer.

She was born Lee Ann Gabriel in Ottumwa, IA on April 30, 1954. During her years at Ottumwa High School, she became the Iowa State Champion in debate. Her debating career continued for two years at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, after which she married her coach, Kenneth Strange. Several years later, he accepted a position as debate coach at Dartmouth and they moved to the Upper Valley. After a decade of marriage, they divorced and Lee took a job as an insurance salesperson with A. B. Gile in Hanover. In 1984 she moved south of Boston and established her own successful financial services company, Landmark One, in West Bridgewater, MA. Later she obtained a baccalaureate degree in psychology by working part-time at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

In 1994, Lee married David M. Lemal, a chemistry professor at Dartmouth, and moved back to Norwich. There her life took a new direction. She completed a Masters degree program in psychological counseling at Antioch New England in Keene, NH, then accepted a position with West Central Behavioral Health in Claremont. Lee devoted ten years to counseling severely ill patients there. In 2008 she set up a private psychotherapy practice in Lebanon, which she carried on until three weeks before her death. She loved that work, and by all accounts was an outstanding therapist.

Lee had a sparkling personality and a zest for life. She enjoyed travel tremendously, and wished to explore as much of this earth as she could. Very bright and multi-talented, Lee was also compassionate and generous, with a remarkable capacity for love that encompassed her greyhounds, whippet, cats, and a great many people.

She is survived by her husband David; four step-children (Anne-Marie Lemal Brown, Marielle Lemal, Ark Lemal, and Corinne Danielson); a step-son-in-law (Scott C. Brown); eight step-grandchildren (Madeleine Sophia, Schuyler Chayton, and Clara Josephine Lemal Brown; Cameron and Sydney Lemal Schmidt; Nimaya Grace and Amanda Moore Lemal; and Tessa Jade Danielson); an aunt (Linda Robinett); and two cousins (Carol and Laura Scott).



Condolences may be expressed to Lee's family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com



In lieu of flowers, donations in Lee's memory can be made to the Upper Valley Humane Society, 300 Old Rte. 10, Enfield, NH 03748. There will be a celebration of her life in mid-June at a time and place to be announced.