Roberta C. Getchell

Roberta C. Getchell, 73
STANDISH -- Roberta C. Getchell, 73, of Punta Gorda, Fla. and Maine, passed away peacefully at her home in Standish on Friday, Sept. 17, 2010.
Roberta (Bert) was born in Houlton on Nov. 30, 1936, to Percy (Spot) and Mildred (Sis) Cameron. She graduated from Houlton High School in 1954 and attended Ricker College in Houlton.
Bert worked for WAGM in Presque Isle as a copywriter for about a year and it was there that she met her husband of 53 years, Wallace Getchell. She later worked at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, obtaining top secret clearance and working in high security areas on the base. After moving to Portland in 1970, she worked for Bonney Personnel, Country Business and SCORE, retiring in 1998.
For many years, Bert, Wally and family summered on Peaks Island, rescuing and renovating the Blake Cottage on Trefethen Avenue from wreck and ruin. Hours were spent painting, staining and repairing the cottage and spare hours were spent on Back Shore and visiting with friends. Later, Bert and Wally lived for 15 years at DiMillo's Marina, aboard Distant Star, a 57 foot classic Maine-built wooden yacht. While aboard, they enjoyed cruising the coast of Maine with friends and family, spending many weekends laughing, entertaining and socializing.
After selling Distant Star, they bought a motor home and traveled up and down the East Coast, finally settling in the Punta Gorda area for the winters where Bert loved to go to the pool for water aerobics with Berts 1 and 3. Bert rarely sat still, unless it was for Jeopardy every night. Spending time with her grandchildren, who range in age from 32 down to two - especially baby-sitting them with 'Pa' over all those years, was one of her greatest joys. In her family, she was called 'Nan' most of the time, even by her own children!
Bert's faith was an integral and important part of her life. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Windham and St. Charles Borromeo in Port Charlotte, Fla., and rarely missed a Sunday, even enjoying a Mass said entirely in Italian while traveling in Italy! She drew great comfort from church, especially as her health declined in recent months. Bert also was a great supporter of deployed soldiers, including her son Kerry (twice), daughter Cathy, and son-in-law John, as well as deployed members of John's family, sending many cards, letters and care packages to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.
She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Ruth Stults, and her brother, Billy Cameron. She is survived by her husband, Wally; and her children, Cathy McKenney and husband John of Portland, Scott of Warren, Kerry and wife Nicole of Standish, and Kevin and wife Kim of New Gloucester. She leaves five wonderful grandchildren, Tom Doyle Jr., Seth McKenney, Natalie Getchell, Garrett Getchell, and Nathan Getchell. She also leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews; cousins; dear, dear friends and will be greatly missed.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 27. Please join Wally and family there at 10 a.m. to share memories and smiles. A reception at the church will follow the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign a guestbook.
In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to:
Hospice of Southern Maine
180 Route 1
Scarborough, Maine 04074