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Shirley Gibson
NORTH BERWICK - Shirley E. Gibson, was born Shirley Elizabeth Stark in Brattleboro, VT. on Sept. 26, 1921.
She died on Jan. 23, 2005 at home after a brief illness. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law,
Colleen and Barry LaVigne in North Berwick.
She worked for several years as a waitress at the Colony Restaurant in Springfield, Mass., before moving to Maine.
She was the daughter of Mary Niles and Merrill Stark of Brattleboro, Vt., with four brothers, Malcolm, Robert, and John Stark, and George Kuusela, and two sisters, Florence Levitt and Hazel Winter.
She and her and family were active in the annual Niles Family Reunion, from the 1930s until 2000. She lived her life well and felt a closeness to this particular verse
She left six daughters, Joan Vincent of Virginia, Mary Kennedy, Sharon Brown, Colleen LaVigne, Nancy Cardoza, and Shirley Ogilvie, all in
Maine and their families; and 16 grandchildren.
She had lived most of her life in West Springfield, Mass., in Brattleboro, Vt., and in Topsham, Maine.
A farewell service and celebration of her life were performed on Jan. 26, 2005 by the Rev. Sue Kingman of Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church in Sanford.
Arrangement were entrusted to the J.S Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery
Frances Harrison
KENNEBUNK – Frances (McCarthy) Harrison, 76, a resident of Kennebunk, passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2005, surrounded by her family.
She was born on May 9, 1928 in Somerville, Mass., the daughter of John Francis and Frances (Donovan) McCarthy.
She grew up in Arlington Heights, where she attended elementary school. She graduated from Marycliff Academy, and continued her education at Emmanuel College in Boston, earning her bachelor’s degree in English literature. She received her master’s degree in education from Boston University.
She taught elementary school in Medford until her retirement at marriage, as required by school department policy. She and her late husband, Frank, were married on June 28, 1953 at St. Camilla’s Church in Arlington.
She and her husband moved to Maine with their eldest child, Steve, settling in Cape Elizabeth before moving to the home they occupied in Kennebunk for 46 years. There they raised eight children with a menagerie of pets in an atmosphere of unlimited love, supplemented with liberal doses of humor, clear expectations for all, and an unshakable faith that any of life’s challenges would work out for the best. She always made room at any meal for her children’s friends. Her home hosted innumerable sleepover parties, clubhouses, backyard carnivals, ballet and theater productions, water balloon fights, “rallies” and games of “Claw.” Her family expanded each summer with the arrival of children from New York City through the Fresh Air Fund – for many years her home was blessed with as many as four children from New York enjoying a Maine summer.
She spent her life raising her children and volunteering in the community. She served as a member and vice-chairman of the school board of MSAD 71, the Kennebunk Youth Services Commission, the Great Books Program for the Kennebunk schools, as a Cub Scout den mother, classroom mother, religious education teacher and as a volunteer for FISH, Webber Hospital, the Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Catholic Women’s Guild and the Kennebunk Nursing Home.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Frank, in June, 2004 and by her eldest child, Steve, in December, 2003. Her brothers, James McCarthy of Lexington, Mass. and Jack McCarthy of Medford, Mass., also predeceased her.
She is survived by her seven remaining children, Frances Harrison and James Harrison of Kennebunk, Anne Harrison Jordan of South Portland, David Harrison, Mary Alice Harrison and Eric Harrison of Kennebunk, and Beth Kissinger of Hopkinton, N.H.; a dozen grandchildren, Leigh Harrison, Elizabeth Harrison Peplaw, Will Harrison, Robert Jordan, John Harrison, Linda Harrison, Emily Harrison, Katherine Kissinger, Katie Jordan, Meghan Kissinger, Christy Harrison Allard and Lily Kissinger. She was particularly close to her cousin, Mary Hartingh of Kennebunk.
A celebration of her life was held on Tuesday, from St. Martha Church, Kennebunk.
Arrangements made by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.
In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may donate in her memory to either: The Kennebunk Fire Rescue Department, Attn: Lt. Emery, 1 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043 or the Maryknoll Fund,
PO Box 304, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0304.
www.maryknoll.org
A charity she supported throughout her life for their work ministering to the world’s needy children, elderly and families.
Chester Hilton Jr.
KITTERY POINT - Chester Everett Hilton Jr., 81, husband of Beatrice (Kenney) Hilton, of Brave Boat Harbor Road died Feb. 3, 2005 at his residence.
He was born Oct. 28, 1923 in Wells, son of Chester E. and Marjory (Welch) Hilton and graduated from Wells High School.
He served his country in the Army during World War II, fighting on the frontlines in France.
For 35 years he worked in Shop 71 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, retiring as a supervisor. For 10 years he was a school bus driver for McCrillis Bus Company.
He was a direct descendant of William Hilton who with his brother, Edward were the founders of Dover, N.H. The Hilton Park in Dover Point, N.H. is named after the two brothers.
He was a former Kittery Point Fire Department volunteer fireman. He enjoyed hunting and was an accomplisher finish carpenter. With his wife, Beatrice, he enjoyed traveling around in their RV, and their trips to their winter home in Davenport, Fla.
He and his wife celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this past Jan. 3. Family was very important to him and he cherished the times spent with his wife, sons, grandchildren and sisters.
He was predeceased by his brother, Martin Lee Hilton.
Family members include his wife, Beatrice (Kenney) Hilton of Kittery Point; three sons, Richard E. Hilton of Jacksonville, Fla., Raymond W. Hilton of Kittery Point, and Bruce A. Hilton of Berwick; three sisters, Laura Howes of Dover, N.H., Eva Blake of Kittery, and Hazel Mabey of Farmington, N.H.; and 10 grandchildren
A funeral was held Sunday at the Lucas and Eaton Funeral Home, York. Interment will be in the spring.
Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made either to Beacon Hospice, 54 Atlantic Pl., South Portland, ME 04106 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Carl Munson
HARRISON - Carl Marshall Munson, 64 of Harrison, died on Feb. 1, 2005 at Maine Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Providence, R.I. on July 15, 1940 the son of Alice (Sugden) Munson and Carl Raymond Munson. He was a graduate of Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
He married his wife, Judith (Turner) Munson on Aug. 25, 1962. They resided for many years in his hometown of Johnston, R.I. In 1982 they moved to Groton, Mass. where he worked as an electrical engineer for Raytheon in Lowell and Andover for more than 20 years. He had recently retired and moved to Harrison to be close to family.
He was a member of Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence for more than 50 years. While living in Rhode Island, he was involved in many aspects of the church, serving as treasurer, singing in the choir and as secretary of the Beneficent Society.
While living in Groton, he pursued his love of singing, performing with the Nashoba Valley Chorale, the Groton-Littleton Theater and the Groton Community Christmas Concert.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Judith (Turner) Munson of Harrison; one daughter, Deborah Munson Feagans and her husband William of Raymond; and by his five month-old twin grandchildren, Carl William Feagans and Emily Sara Feagans of Raymond; one niece, Sara Rundlett Slater and her husband Paul, one nephew, Christopher Rundlett, and one great-niece, Sophie Slater, all of Kennebunk.
There was a memorial service at Beneficent Congregational Church on Sunday. A burial service will be held at Hope cemetery in Kennebunk in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Beneficent Church, 300 Weybosset St., Providence, RI 02903, for their Memorial Fund.
Arrangements are by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.
Matthew Sylvester
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Matthew Robert Sylvester, 43, of Shearwater Drive in Portsmouth, died on Jan. 31, 2005 at his home, following a long and incredibly courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on March 31, 1961 in Pensacola, Fla. He attended schools in Kittery including R.W. Traip Academy. He served in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman with special training as a combat field medic where his true talent came into play when he assisted the injured sailors after the tragic plane crash on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz in May of 1981.
Following service in the military he worked for a number of nursing care facilities here in the seacoast area. In 1986 he became a member of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital staff, working for many years as a unit coordinator and cardiac monitor tech in the Intensive Care Unit . He loved his job and aspired to be so much more, but most of all, he loved to make people laugh and it was something he was good at, touching the lives of everyone he came in contact with.
He leaves his mother Diana Sylvester; his father Robert Sylvester; one sister, Kimberly; one brother, Mark; as well as his friend and companion Faith, and her children whom Matt loved as his own, Jessica, Jennifer and Steven; six nieces and nephews; and his Uncle David.
A memorial service to celebrate his life was held on Saturday at the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, Kittery, with a reception immediately following at the Corner Pub in Wallingford Square in Kittery.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Portsmouth Home Health and Hospice Services, 95 Albany St., Unit 11, Portsmouth, NH 03801 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Grace Coombs
KENNEBUNK – Grace Elaine Coombs, 77, of Ross Road, died Feb. 2, 2005 at the Kennebunk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She was born in Eastport on Feb.. 18, 1927, the daughter of Everett and Helen Malloch.
She worked at Clarostat in Dover, N.H. and was a member of the Ogunquit Methodist Church.
She enjoyed knitting, sewing and her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Roland F. Coombs.
Surviving are one son, Edward Coombs and his wife Mildred of Wells; two daughters, Karen Darling and her husband John of Wells, and Beth Mayne and her husband Robert of Woodstock, Ga.; three brothers, James Malloch and Bernard Malloch, both of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Richard Malloch of Portland; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1 Main St., Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.
Arrangements by Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk.
Eleanor Rae
NORTH BERWICK - Mrs. Eleanor (Eaton) Rae, 90, of North Berwick, formerly of Sanford, died on Dec. 28, 2004 at the Varney Crossing Nursing Care Center.
She was born in East Lebanon on Sept. 1, 1914, a daughter of Frank and Alice (Currier) Eaton. She lived in Lebanon and Sanford during her childhood with her parents and brother, Lawrence. She graduated from Sanford High School in 1931 and also graduated from Nasson Institute (later Nasson College) in 1933 with a degree in secretarial science. In 1935, she married Robert H. Rae in Sanford. They made their home at 14 Summer St. in Sanford for many years. She worked as a secretary in the Sanford Mills from the 1930s until the 1950s. From the early 1960s to 1978, she and her husband lived at 25 Birchwood Dr. in New Milford, Conn., where she worked at the New Milford Savings Bank.
In 1978, she and her husband relocated to Wells. After her husband passed away in 1983, she was an active member of the Wells Congregational Church and the Wells Grange. Later, she moved to Eliot, and then to North Berwick. She enjoyed playing the piano, reading, traveling and spending time with her family.
She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, her husband and her daughter, Roberta (Rae) Willing.
She is survived by one son, James Rae of Alfred; six grandchildren, Charles Willing of Concord, N.H., Robin Willing of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Brian Willing of Falmouth, Sandi Rae of Nashville, Tenn., Eliza Rae of Wells and Laura Rae of Wells; three great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Willing, Virginia Willing and Dylan Rae Nelson; and numerous extended family members including her first cousin, Mrs. Olive Likely of St. Petersburg, Fla., who thought of her as a sister.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to York Hospital, 15 Hospital Dr., York, ME 03909.
Catherine Miniutti
BIDDEFORD - Catherine A. Miniutti, 79, of Westmore Avenue died the afternoon of Feb. 8, 2005 at Partners in Care Giving on May Street after a long illness.
She was born in Biddeford on June 3, 1925 a daughter of John and Hazel (Cotey) Neary. She attended St. Mary’s School in Biddeford schools and graduated from Biddeford High School in the class of 1943.
She met her husband, Amedeo “Jack” Miniutti, on Valentine’s Day in 1946 and they were married on Oct. 19 later that same year. He died on Aug. 24, 2004 after nearly 58 years of marriage.
She enjoyed the beach, especially Goose Rocks, playing cards and board games with numerous friends and neighbors, and traveling. St. Patrick’s Day was her favorite day of the year and her children referred to her as “My Wild Irish
Mom.” She loved to dance, enjoyed “Big Band” and Irish music, and was an avid football fan. She was always very interested in the activities of her children and grandchildren and her greatest achievements were as a steadfast caregiver of her 10 children. She was actively involved in the community through her children and as a worker at the election polls.
She was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Parish, the Ladies Sodality and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish Catholic organization. She lived her life with a deep faith in God and a dedication to her church, her family, and the community.
Surviving are five sons, Patrick Miniutti and his wife Aline of Biddeford, Mike Miniutti and his wife Teri of Minnetonka, Minn., Bill Miniutti of Biddeford, John Miniutti and his wife Michelle of Holly Springs, N.C., Dave Miniutti and his wife Michelle of Roswell, Ga.; five daughters, Peggy Wilson and her husband Don of Biddeford, Kathy Rhodes of Dallas, Texas, Mary Fleurant and her husband Don of Arundel, Janie Miniutti and her husband Steve Hayes of Arundel, and Carol Miniutti of Decatur, Ga.; one brother, John Neary of Biddeford; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be 2 to 3:30 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Hope Memorial Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Mary’s cemetery in Biddeford. Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford.
Memorial donations in her name may be made to the Jack Miniutti Scholarship Fund, c/o Biddeford High School, Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME 04005.
Elizabeth Delano
YORK - Elizabeth (Washburn) Delano, 89, a resident of Kittery Point for 55 years and of York for six years, died of cancer at her home in York on Feb. 2, 2005. She was the widow of Warren Delano, who died in 1989.
Born in New York City, she was the daughter of Pauline (Clarkson) Washburn and Frank B. Washburn. She graduated from the Brearley School in New York City and received a B.A. degree in archaeology from Bryn Mawr College in 1937.
Active in community affairs for many years, she served as president of the Portsmouth Hospital Guild, a trustee of Portsmouth Hospital, and chairwoman of the board of trustees from 1960-65 during construction of the building that now houses City Hall. She was an honorary trustee of the Foundation of Seacoast Health and a trustee and chairwoman of the Board of Strawbery Banke Museum. For a number of years, she served on the Board of Advisors of the University of New Hampshire Art Gallery and as the New England representative of the Bryn Mawr College Alumnae Association. She was a past board member of the Kittery Land Trust and of the Friends of the Rice Public Library.
In addition to being a proprietor of the Portsmouth Athenaeum, she was also a member and supporter of a number of organizations concerned with the arts, historic preservation, and conservation, most recently serving as co-chairwoman of the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative.
She was an enthusiastic tennis player and golfer and was twice the Women’s Golf Champion at York Golf & Tennis Club and one-time Senior Champion of the Southern Maine Women’s Golf Association.
She is survived by her three children, Sara Delano of Winchester, Mass., Warren Delano of New Canaan, Conn., and Lyman Delano of Greenwich, Conn.; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be private, according to her wishes.
Gifts may be made in her memory to the York Hospital, 15 Hospital Dr., York, ME 03909; The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, NH 03801; or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home of York.
