Teresa Ann Getchell

Teresa Ann
Getchell, 75
PORTLAND -- Teresa Ann Getchell, 75, died on April 10, 2012, at the Maine Medical Center, with her loving family by her side.
She was born on Sept. 13, 1936, in Portland, the daughter of Dudley and Mary (Duffy) Coyne. She was educated locally and attended Cathedral Elementary School and was a graduate of Cathedral High School. She graduated from Mercy School of Nursing becoming a registered nurse. She earned her master's degree at Boston University.
She was a communicant of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Teresa married Lt. Col. Paul E. Getchell on June 27, 1961, at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, and began raising her family. Lt. Col. Paul E. Getchell was shot down during the Viet Nam War in 1969 and declared dead in 1979. Teresa became a lifelong Advocate and served as a state coordinator of MIA/POW. She attended many meetings in Washington.
Teresa worked at Mercy Hospital in the Pulmonary Department for over 10 years. In the late 1970s, she taught in the Nursing Program at St. Joseph's College. In the late 1990s she worked as an assistant teacher at Longfellow School.
Teresa was an avid runner, who participated in half Marathons and golfer and bridge player. Teresa loved to walk Baxter Boulevard. She traveled extensively over the United States and Europe. Teresa spent her winters in Bradenton, Fla.
Teresa was predeceased by her husband, Lt. Col. Paul E. Getchell; her parents; a brother, Patrick Coyne and a sister, Mary O'Brion. Surviving are a son, Gregory P. Getchell and his wife Stephanie of Portland, daughter, Karen T. Getchell and her husband David Coppersmith of Portland; a sister, Barbara Kokalari and her husband Al of Connecticut, brothers, John Coyne of Portland, Dudley Coyne and his wife Connie of Scarborough, William Coyne and his wife Helen of Texas; and two grandchildren, Abigail Crump of Westbrook and Gianna Getchell of Portland.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St., Portland. Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband. Arrangements by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ctcrawford.com.
Those desiring may make contributions in Teresa's memory to:
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) ATTN.: Gift Processing
P.O. Box 14301
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301
or Operation Homefront
8930 Fourwinds Drive, Suite 340 San Antonio, Texas 78239
Teresa Ann Getchell