RUMFORD – Annette Grace Austin, 71, died after a long battle with kidney disease on Wednesday, Dec. 14, with her loving family by her side, at her home on the South Backfield Road in Smithcrossing.

Born in Rumford on June 20, 1934, she was a daughter of Vito and Teresa (Papsadora) Salatino. She attended local schools.

For many years, she worked as a waitress at the Platter Restaurant and Razzano’s Restaurant, and for a few years, she worked for Duke Orino Pharmacy in the Rumford area.

Later, with her husband and children and her niece, Debra, she owned and operated Austin’s Variety Store on Route 108 for eight years. She was then employed at Food Trend for nine years, until illness became too much to handle.

She was a regular communicant of St. Athanasius-St. John Church. She was also a member of Napoleon Ouellette Post 24, American Legion Auxiliary, Gorizia Lodge 467, Sons of Italy, Rumford Falls Aerie 1248, FOE Auxiliary, St. Timothy Circle 504 and Daughters of Isabella.

She was most proud of her accomplishments as a mother of five wonderful children. She viewed this as the most serious work in life, and gave unselfishly of her time and energy to her family. She was a rare jewel, who valued and treasured each of her children and grandchildren. Her strong faith in God and her saints kept her strong in her daily life. She loved to cook and bake, and shared it daily with her family and friends.

She was married on June 6, 1955, to Richard G. Austin of Rumford, who survives her.

Other survivors include her mother, Teresa Salatino of Rumford; two sons, Victor Austin and his companion, Pam Puiia, of Rumford, and Richard R. Austin and his wife, Stacy, of Wilton; three daughters, Paula Howe and her husband, Matthew, of Dixfield, Patricia Gilman and her husband, Gary, of Peru, and Pamela Austin and her companion, Ron Henning, of Greenwood, S.C.; 10 grandchildren, Tyler, Carmen, Crystal, William, Coral, Courtney, Carson, Gabrielle, Selena and Emily Dawn; two step-grandchildren, Marissa and Darra; three sisters, Julia Salatino and Joanne Salatino of Rumford, and Lucy Day and her husband, Richard, of Rumford; four brothers, Vito Salatino and his wife, Mary, of Pittsfield, Mass., and Naples, Rocco Salatino and his wife, Julie, of Rumford, James Salatino and his wife, Betty, of Dixfield, and Joseph Salatino of Auburn; and a special sister-in-law, Betty Salatino of Rumford.

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