Marion Libby Broaddus

WESTBROOK - Marion Libby Broaddus, 95, of Westbrook, passed away at the Gorham House on February 19, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. She was a retired educator and passionate volunteer.

Marion was born on August 7, 1919, to Dr. Lewis S. and Aileene H. Libby of Milford, ME, and graduated from Old Town High School in 1938, and from the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) with a degree in Home Economics in 1942. She was privileged to have worked summers as a personal cook for the great American theologian Harry Emerson Fosdick on Mouse Island off Boothbay Harbor during WW2. She then worked as a chemist and as an industrial dietician for Calvert/Seagram Company in Baltimore. After the war, she met and then married Samuel T. Broaddus. She moved back to Maine with her young family in 1952, settling in the Red Bank housing development in South Portland before moving to Westbrook in 1955, where she remained for the rest of her life. Marion was the only sister to 4 brothers, raised 4 sons and taught 7th grade math and science at Westbrook Junior High School for many years. Each of these virtues was individually worthy of an award, but collectively they made her worthy of a very special place in heaven. She loved her granddaughters as gifts from God. Marion lived a full, vibrant, and amazing life. She was a 10th generation Mainer.

She was a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts, having attained the highest rank of Golden Eaglet in 1937, and was a life member of the Order of the Silver Trefoil. She was very proud of her University of Maine education and served for many years as the Class Secretary of the class of 1942. She received the University Block M award for her work with alumni activities. Her mother Aileene was a graduate of the UMO class of 1914.

In 1970, she returned to night school and earned a Masters Degree in Education at Gorham State College. She was a devoted member of the Westbrook-Warren U.C.C. church for nearly 60 years. Marion served as a Trustee of the Walker Memorial Library, was a Board member for the Westbrook Community Hospital, and was a member of the Westbrook Woman's Club, Westbrook Historical Society, and the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. She was a role model volunteer in numerous other community, church and civic organizations.

She was well known in Westbrook for her distance walking and active lifestyle even into her early nineties. Marion enjoyed travelling to foreign lands with Elderhostel Programs, and a pin map on her wall at home attested to the many places she and her family members had visited or lived.

Her husband, Sam, predeceased her in 2008. She was immensely proud of her 4 sons, their life accomplishments and their families: Stephen L. Broaddus and his wife, Lisa, of Cincinnati, OH, grandson, Derek and his wife, Maria, of Westfield, NJ, great-grandchildren, Samuel C., Isabella and Anne Catherine, granddaughter ,Cortney Fuerst and her husband, Russell, of Sheboygan, WI, great-grandchildren, Carter and Eli; Samuel B. Broaddus, and his wife, Sandra Jensen, of Gorham, ME, grandchildren, Nathan of Gorham and Hannah of Livingston, MT; Andrew L. Broaddus and his wife, Jackie, of Westbrook, grandson, Aaron and his wife, Katie, of Gorham; and John T. Broaddus of Brownfield, ME. Marion is also survived by her brother, Seth and his wife, Mary, of Milford, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marion was one of a kind and will be sadly missed by her extended family and friends, as well as her church and civic communities. She touched many people in her life and will be remembered for her devotion, implacable spirit and her joy of life.

The Broaddus family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Gorham House for their exceptional care of Marion.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 1 p.m. at the Westbrook-Warren Church, 810 Main Street, Westbrook. A reception and tea will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Marion's memory to: Pilgrim Lodge Scholarship Fund, Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church,

810 Main Street, Westbrook, ME 04092; Library Fund, Dr. Lewis S. Libby School, 13 School Street, Milford, ME 04461; or University of Maine Foundation, 75 Clearwater Drive, Falmouth, ME 04105.