MANCHESTER — Vesta Leodine Mitchell, 101, of Readfield Road, Manchester, died Sunday, Oct. 3, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born at home in South Portland, March 4, 1909, the youngest of three children to Walter and Mary (Cole) Brown. Vesta attended schools in South Portland, and upon graduation from high school entered Bates College, from which she received her bachelor’s degree.

Vesta grew up in South Portland, in the area which was razed to make way for the Portland Naval Shipyard during World War II. Her proximity to the ocean gave her a lifelong appreciation and love of the sea. She grew up surrounded by the love of her parents, grandparents and her two older brothers, Walter and Maynard.

In those Depression years, she set out to find employment in Texas, and later in New Jersey, but soon returned to Maine, where she reconnected with a childhood friend while getting her teacher’s license renewed at Portland City Hall. That friend was Elmer Mitchell. They were married after an engagement of several years, during which Vesta taught school in Bucksport. Vesta and Elmer had two daughters, Lynne and Diane.

Books were one of her passions, everything from poetry to mysteries. Though not politically active, she loved to follow politics and keep up on local and world affairs through the newspapers and television. Vesta was a regular patron of the Lithgow Library.

Vesta was a very special and unique lady, with a New England reserve that belied her great warmth and caring for others, be they family, strangers or animals. She was an unforgettable mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt to her family. Over the years, she was the great benefactor and servant of countless dogs and cats.

Her family was the most important thing in her life, and her loving survivors include her daughters, Diane Welch of Manchester and Lynne Ramsey and her husband, Paul, of Hanover; grandchildren, Steve Ramsey and his wife, Francine, of Ferrisburgh, Vt., Lisa Ferguson and her husband, Jon Deveneau of Madison N.H., Patrick Welch and his wife, Kerry, of Readfield and Ryan Welch of Manchester; great-granddaughters, Lily and Caroline Welch of Readfield and Eleanor Ramsey of Vermont; great-grandsons, Eric and Ian Ferguson and Jesse Deveneau of Madison, N.H., and Mitchell Ramsey of Vermont; her nieces, Jean Brown of Rhode Island, and Beverly Hanson of Florida, and Sebago Lake; nephews, William Brown and Howard Brown of Portland; and many nieces and nephews of her late husband, who were also very much in her heart.

Vesta was predeceased by her husband, Elmer Mitchell; her brothers, Walter and Maynard; two nieces, Mary Brown and Sylvia Brown; and a nephew, Maynard Brown, Jr.

The family is very grateful for the wonderful care and support offered by the doctors, nurses and staff at MaineGeneral Medical Center.

Condolences can be sent to www.khrfuneralhomes.com.