Bettie B. Mardin

Bettie B. Mardin, 83
SCARBOROUGH -- Bettie B. Mardin passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the Gosnell Hospice in Scarborough with her family by her side.
Bettie was born in Portland on April 18, 1928, to Richard E. and Hazel M. Bowen. As a child she lived in East and North Deering and graduated from Deering High School in 1945. Her childhood summers were spent at the family cottage on Little Diamond Island where she enjoyed the ocean with her girlfriends.
She later attended Northeastern Business College in Portland where she met her future husband, Jim. The two connected when Bettie noticed Jim had a car and she convinced him (as only Bettie could do) to give her rides home to Coyle Street each day after class. They were married on Sept. 16, 1950, and shared 60 years of marriage together.
Bettie and Jim raised two children and their family and friends enjoyed many summers together at their ocean side cottage at Hills Beach in Biddeford. Jim would commute to work in Portland from June to September so that Bettie and the children could spend as much time as possible at the beach. Once the children graduated from high school, Bettie and Jim made Hills Beach their year round residence. In 1985, they moved to the Portland House on the Eastern Promenade
Beyond raising a family, Bettie also worked at various retail stores over the years and as a medical secretary for Maine Medical Center. But her favorite job, where her creativity could flourish, was as a floral designer. She worked for many years as a designer at Harmon's Florists in Portland and later in retirement at the Flowerbox at the Maine Medical Center. Her creations were loved by all who saw them and her contributions to the Maine Medical Center community where she volunteered more than 6,500 hours over 20 years, will be greatly missed.
Bettie is survived by her husband, James A. Mardin of Portland; a daughter, Tamlyn Osolin and granddaughter Emily Osolin of South Portland; a son, Timothy Mardin and his wife Cheryl C. Mardin, and grandchildren, Kathryn Mardin, Julia Mardin and Benjamin Mardin, all of Rye, N.H.; and Stephen Mardin of Portsmouth N.H.
The family would like to thank the staff of Sedgewood Commons for their daily care and compassion during Bettie's stay and the staff at Gosnell Hospice for the care and respect they showed Bettie at the end.
Visiting hours will be from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, at Hobbs Funeral Home located at 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 16, also at Hobbs Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial
donation may be made to:
The Alzheimer's Association
Maine Chapter
383 U.S. Route One, Suite 2C
Scarborough, Maine 04074-9843
Bettie B. Mardin