1933 – 2015

AUBURN — Georgette “Gerry” N. Whirley-Cain of Oxbow Drive, Lewiston, passed away Friday, Dec. 11, at the Hospice House after a short illness.

She was born in Auburn on Dec. 26, 1933, daughter of the late Auburn Deputy Fire Chief Frederick M. Whirley and Mary L. Bilodeau Whirley.

She was educated in Auburn schools, attended Richard’s Secretarial School, Auburn Maine School of Commerce and LaSalle University in accounting.

Gerry proudly served her country in the United States Marine Corps, worked for the state of Virginia in Norfolk, worked as an assistant city clerk in Auburn and retired from Geiger Brothers in Lewiston with 35 years of service.

She was a charter and lifelong member in the Maine Semper Fi Chapter of Women Marines, the Bay State Chapter of Women Marines in Massachusetts, Marine Corps League, Central Detachment and WIMSA (Women in Military Service). She also served as the female executive officer for the young Marines of Central Maine and operated Bingo in Lewiston and Auburn for them to raise funds. She was a lifelong member of the VFW Post 1603 Auxiliary, American Legion Post 153 Auxiliary, and Franco-American War Veterans. As a member of the L&A Veteran’s Council, she was totally involved with projects that took place in the Lewiston Veterans’ Memorial Park. She served as the Council’s treasurer among many other aspects of the council.

She served as a notary public, president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 106, and a lifelong member of the Philatelic Society.

Gerry was an avid stamp collector since 1958, and enjoyed doing projects on the computer, bird watching, reading, number puzzles, and working outdoors with the landscaping and caring for the birds who nested and fed in her backyard. She loved volunteering at Rolly’s Diner where she met many friendly people who she enjoyed conversing with.

As an avid sports enthusiast, she followed the professional baseball and football season, including college football; a great fan of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Notre Dame.

Among her immediate and extended families, she leaves behind her one and only loving son, Kevin T. Cain, his wife, Debbie, and grandson, Jonathan M. Cain, all of Auburn; five sisters, Doris Webster of Brookville, Fla., Patricia Anderson of Auburn, and Mary Charpentier, Peggy Whirley and Joan Hebert, all of Auburn; two brothers, Patrick R. Whirley of Dudley, Mass. and Jerome Salvadalena of Auburn; several cousins; many nieces and nephews; and her sister-in-law, Jacqueline Whirley, whom she cherished and loved dearly.

She was predeceased by her parents and four brothers, Thomas, Frederick Jr., Michael and John Whirley.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.