1924-2012

LEWISTON — Mary Martha Chaplin of New Gloucester died Oct. 29, 2012 in Lewiston.

Born in Lewiston, Feb. 20, 1924 to Martha M. Chapman and Dexter Knights, she grew up in Auburn, married Robert P. Chaplin, also of Auburn and raised her family on Leonard Street in Portland, before moving to New Gloucester in 1961.

Events in the natural world held great interest for her. Her mother showed her the ways of nature and these she handed down to her children and grandchildren. Additionally her view of life was shaped by the works of Rachel Carson, Roger Tory Peterson, Audubon and the Wyeths and those who shared her childhood experiences playing in the woodlands behind her Western Avenue home.

Wartime marked the lives of many people of her generation and Mary joined those who watched for enemy planes and submarines from Popham Beach. She was introduced to Bob by her future sister-in-law, Olive when she worked for the Prudential Insurance Company. After marriage, she entertained many of his students when he became band director for Edward Little High School, which continued after they settled in Portland. Mother to three, she also volunteered for the March of Dimes, the Girl Scouts and the First Congregational Church of New Gloucester. Summers on Little Sebago Lake added more entries to her bird journal and enriched her life with family and friends.

She enjoyed traveling, boating and gardening with her husband. Just being outdoors, listening for birds, or hiking, skiing, skating, or swimming gave her pleasure. She possessed a keen wit and clever hands for crafts and painting and was, for many years, a prolific knitter. Later an exuberant fan of the Celtics and the Red Sox, she mourned when she couldn’t watch a game. She loved lobster rolls, playing board games with her grandchildren, lunch with her Edward Little classmates and monitoring her bird feeders.

She will be missed by her children, Martha C. Frink, John Chaplin and wife, Louise and Nancy C. Connolly and husband, Dennis; and her grandchildren, Leah Stetson, Tad Stetson, Glenn Connolly, Robert Connolly and wife, Lindsey, Owen Chaplin, Margaret Chaplin and Julian Frink; her brother, Myron D. Knights; her cousin, Ruth Jordan Cushing, sister-in-law, Olive Chaplin; and many nephews, nieces, neighbors and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years and her son-in-law, Michael Frink.

Mary’s family acknowledges the extraordinary kindness and care provided by everyone at d’Youville Pavilion of St. Mary’s Hospital and Androscoggin Hospice.