1916 – 2015

BUCKFIELD — Nettie Mahala Stetson Frechette, 98, of Norway, fell asleep to be with her Lord on Monday, May 25, in Buckfield after a joyous life filled with love for God, her family, farm animals, pets and cooking.

Born on her family farm in Hartford, on Dec. 12, 1916, she was the daughter of Irene Dodge Stetson and Fred Stetson. She graduated from Canton High School at age 16 and furthered her education at Nasson College in Springvale with a degree in nutrition.

She was married to Ernest Frechette for almost 74 years, and together they ran a successful dairy farm with their four children in Norway. She was a devoted homemaker and nature lover, known best for her delicious pies. Her daily physical chores and cooking contributed to her going strong for 98 years. Nettie had no time to sit around all day. The family enjoyed hearing stories of Nettie’s childhood and almost 100 years of family history.

Her children and grandchildren would amaze each other with talk of her hard work: “Mom was baking a blueberry pie this morning!” “Grammie just hung out her clothes in two feet of snow!” “Grammie was on a ladder, painting her ceiling (at age 96)!”

Nettie loved her family and friends deeply, but rarely expressed her feelings in words, being a shy, quiet and private person. Instead, she would smile at you while you were preparing feed for her hens, helping with a jigsaw puzzle or riding around New England viewing covered bridges, mountains and lakes — her favorite activity.

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She belonged to the Norway Second Congregational Church and Norway Heywood Club.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Ray Stetson, Myrtle Gordon and Irma Jack. Her surviving children are Joanna Page of Summerville, S.C., Arnold and Pat Frechette of Gorham, Gerald Frechette of Norway, and Warren and Beth Frechette of Mechanic Falls. She has six grandchildren, Jeffrey Frechette, Andrea Bove, Rebecca and Greg Page, Andy and Michael Frechette; and nine great-grandchildren.

The family is very grateful for the care given to Nettie by her niece, Anita Jack, during the final months of her life.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.


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