Our Dearly Departed By Bob Anastasoff

Wayne E. Cliff, 79, of Portland, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2013, following a long battle with a chronic respiratory condition.
Wayne was born in Arlington, Mass. in 1933.  After moving to Chicago, Ill., he attended Francis Parker School through high school
and was awarded a coveted Navy ROTC scholarship, affording him an Ivy League education at Dartmouth College (B.S., 1955), 
where he met Margot, the love of his life.  Wayne and Margot were married in June of 1956, after Wayne earned his Masters in Business Administration
at Tuck School of Business.  In 1984 Wayne became Sr. Vice President in the Investment Department at Union Mutual Life Insurance Company (now Unum) 
in Portland, from which he retired.
He is survived by his wife, Margot. He was surrounded by family members as he breathed his last and will be dearly missed
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Robert Edward Collins, 64, of Nashua, N.H., died on March 14, 2013, at his home in Nashua.   He was born in 1949 in Lynn, Mass.  He was the husband of Sandra Lynn (Dunning) Collins of Nashua with whom he had been married to for 45 years. Robert received a bachelor's degree from Husson University in Bangor. He was employed as a compliance officer for Fidelity Investments in Merrimack, N.H.  He was previously employed at Unum. There were no visiting hours or funeral service.  Donations may be made in Robert's loving memory to: The American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, Virginia 22312

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Peter James Dietz, 63, lost his nine-year fight with cancer and leukemia on May 5, 2013.  Peter was born Oct. 4, 1949, in  Mt. Vernon, N.Y.  Pete grew up in Pelham, N.Y. and graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1967.  Pete attended  Franklin College in Franklin, Ind. for two years before transferring to Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., where he  earned his B.A. in English in 1972.  Pete attended Southern Illinois University and earned his M.A. degree.  He also attended Vanderbilt University in the Doctorate of Education Program. Pete took a position as Director of Corporate Services for The Union Mutual Life Insurance Co., later to become Unum.  His  career at Unum lead him in several directions, eventually ending up as Full Vice President and Head of Underwriting and  corporate services for the individual disability division. Relatives and friends were invited to attend a visitation on May 10, 2013, with a time of remembrance at the Wilde Memorial Chapel at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

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Wilford H. Graham, 'Billy,' died suddenly at a Portland hospital on June 7, 2013. 
He was born on July 9, 1947.  He held several jobs throughout his life including working at Unum as a computer analyst.
Billy is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Mary Graham, of Portland. There was a private funeral service for immediate friends and family.

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God accepted a very special angel on June 28, 2013 when he received Ginger Crawford Hatt.  Ginger was born on Jan. 5, 1937 in Houlton.  She moved to Portland at age five. She attended Portland High School and was a very  proud graduate of the Class of 1954. Ginger married the love of her life, Arthur Hatt, on June 16, 1956.  They recently celebrated 57 wonderful years  of marriage together. Ginger was diagnosed with Lymphoma on June 28, 2007.  How ironic that exactly six years to the day, we would lose her.  She bravely fought her cancer and was accompanied and cared for by Arthur the entire time.  Carrying out her wishes, she remained at home and passed away surrounded by her family.  They  maintained a vigil and helped her on her journey.  Ginger retired from Unum in 1995 and was an active part of the retiree luncheons held regularly.  Ginger is  survived by her loving, devoted husband, Arthur.  Visiting hours were held July 1 at Blais & Hay Funeral Home,  Westbrook. A funeral service was held July 2 at the Westbrook Warren Congregational Church. Interment  followed in Mayberry Cemetery, Windham. In keeping with Ginger's generous heart, she has requested that donations be made either to: Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals P. O. Box 10    South Windham, ME 04062 Or VNA - Home Health Hospice 50 Foden Rd.   South Portland, Maine 04106

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Ruth A. Ladd, 87, died peacefully on Sunday, April 28, 2013 after a 15 year battle with Alzheimer's.  She was born in  Portland on Dec. 23, 1925.  Ruth graduated from Deering High School as a member of the National Honor Society  in 1943.  In 1946, she married her high school sweetheart, William E. Ladd.  For 14 years, she served as an administrative assistant in the Legal Department at Union Mutual. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Bill in 1976.  The family would like to thank the incredible, loving caregivers and staff on 'Eagle Lake' at Brentwood Rehab and Nursing  Center in Yarmouth for the last 7 1/2 years and Beacon Hospice for their 1 ½  years of kindness and support to Ruth and her family A graveside service and celebration of Ruth's life was held on May 4, 2013 at Evergreen Cemetery, Portland.    Donations may be made to: Alzheimer's Association   Maine Chapter 383 US Route One, Suite 2C    Scarborough, ME 04074

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Helen Estelle Brown Smith Nicholson peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family in her home on June 1, 2013.  Helen was born Oct. 22, 1942, in Portland.  She attended Cathedral School in Portland. Helen retired from Unum in 2007 after ten years. Helen married Robert J. Smith of South Portland, her high school sweetheart, in 1960.  Robert was killed in Vietnam in 1965.  In 1968 she married David J. Nicholson and was his loving wife for 45 years.  She is survived by her beloved husband  David J. Nicholson of Portland Visitation was held June 3, 2013 at the Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home, South Portland.  Prayer services were  recited June 4 in the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Interment will be at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland. Donations in Helen's Memory can be given to:   Portland Trails   305 Commercial Street  Portland, Maine  04101.

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Phyllis Wells Southern, 92, passed away at her home in Cape Elizabeth on March 1, 2013.  She was born on May 18, 1920, in Augusta.  In the third grade, she moved with her parents and siblings to Portland.  Phyllis graduated from Deering High  School and attended Portland Jr. College.  Before she married, she was employed at the home office of Union Mutual Life  Insurance Company where she met her future husband, Henry J. Southern, Jr.  They married on April 24, 1943, and shortly  thereafter they moved to RI where Henry was stationed during WW II.  In 1945 they moved back to Maine Her husband Henry predeceased Phyllis.  A private graveside service was held on March 9, at Brooklawn Memorial Park in Portland.  For those wishing to make a  donation in her memory, you may send to either organization listed below: The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland PO Box 336    Westbrook, ME 04098-0336 or Maine Medical Center Memorial Program    Development Department 22 Bramhall St.    Portland, ME  04102

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Karin Jean Taylor, 53, of Harpswell, died on, May 22, 2013, at Mid Coast Hospital.  She was born September 13, 1959.   Graduating from UMPG, now USM, Karin worked as a teller in a local bank until joining Union Mutual in the very early 1980 in client services. From there she went into underwriting.  She left the company for a few years to follow her husband, Ray,  taking their son Raymond to Wisconsin to work in a field insurance sales office.  Returning to Maine and Unum in 1991,  she went to work in the Portland Sales office as a Sales rep and was the Group Disability Representative of the year in the same year that the family suffered a major house fire.  The family again moved to Tampa Fla. for Karin to work in the Unum sales office, with Jacksonville as her territory.  Returning to Maine finally in 2007, settling first in Standish and  later in Harpswell, she retired from Unum a few years ago.  She is survived by her husband, Ray of Harpswell.  A mass of Christian Burial took place at Saint Catharine Drexel Chapel in Harpswell Maine.  On May 27 a burial followed at Cranberryhorn Cemetery in Harpswell. Donations may be made to:  Camp Sunshine   35 Acadia St.   Casco, Maine, 04015

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William C. Vincent, 72, passed away on April 30, 2013, surrounded by family. Bill graduated fromOld Orchard Beach High School in 1960.  After 
graduating, Bill joined the Air force and was stationed in Omaha where he met the love of his life, DeAnn J. Peck.  Six months after meeting they were 
married and shared 51 years of marriage together.  Bill and DeAnn moved their family back to Maine in early 1965 and eventually settled in Windham.  
Soon after he began working at Unum as a computer programmer, eventually retiring as an Associate Vice President. After retirement
in September of 1997 he continued to work as a programmer. He ended his career as a consultant for Ability Resources.
Bill is survived by his wife DeAnn Vincent.  An hour of visitation was held on May 5, 2013, followed by a memorial service at the Dolby and Dorr Funeral Chapel, Gorham.

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Beverly Jean King Worthley passed away at Mercy Hospital on Feb. 27, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. Beverly was born on Aug. 20, 1932 in Portland.  She grew up in Portland and graduated from Deering High School in 1950.   Beverly and James Worthley Jr. were married at Stevens Avenue Congregational Church on June 5, 1955.  They would  continue to dance, laugh and love each other for the next 57 years. After retiring from Unum in 1995, Beverly continued to lead a very active, full life.  She is survived by her husband, James.  Visiting hours were held on March 3, at the Dolby Funeral Chapel, Windham,  where a funeral service followed.  Spring burial was in Arlington Cemetery.  Donations in her memory may be made to:  American Cancer Society   1 Bowdoin Mill Island     Topsham, Maine  04086

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