Charlotte M Sinnett

Portland – Charlotte Mae (Gifford) Sinnett, 95, passed away peacefully in the company of her family on April 10, 2017. Charlotte was born August 20, 1921, in Kirksville, MO, the daughter of Drs. William Edward, DO, and Martha Amy (Booker) Gifford, DO.

Charlotte graduated from Bangor High School in 1939 and from the University of Maine at Orono in 1943. A math major, she was a member of Phi Mu Fraternity and two honor societies: Sigma Mu Sigma and Sigma Delta Zeta.

On January 29, 1944 in Norfolk, VA, she married Ensign Clifford Henry Sinnett of Portland. During WWII, while her husband served in Europe, Mrs. Sinnett performed calculations to assist in the development of US sonar capabilities at the Underwater Sound Laboratory at Harvard University. She was a Gray Lady volunteer for the Red Cross in Japan when her husband was stationed there during the Korean War.

In Portland, Mrs. Sinnett was president of the National Panhellenic Conference and of her sorority alumnae group. She was a den mother in Cub Scouts. She was the first recipient of an award for “outstanding service to the Maine Audubon Society,” where she volunteered and worked for more than 10 years. She was a life member of Maine Audubon Society and participated in the annual bird breeding survey for more than 25 years.

She was active in the Woman’s Literary Union, was a life member of The Longfellow Garden Club, The State Garden Club Federation of Maine, and the National Association of State Garden Clubs. She enjoyed the challenge of keeping address lists up to date for these organizations. Genealogy was another favorite pastime.

Charlotte was loved by all who got to know her. She enjoyed cooking and baking, knitting, bird watching, and playing games. She and Cliff also enjoyed their many and varied travels, summers at Bailey Island, and Februarys in Puerto Rico. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family.

Charlotte and Cliff were adventurous, and were trail-blazers in their time. When Cliff was first assigned to duty in Korea, she corresponded with him by the brand-new and high-tech means of reel-to-reel tape recordings. When his assignment moved him to the Tokyo area, she traveled on her own by rail and ship from Portland, Maine with a 5-year old, a 2-year old, and an infant in arms to spend the next year with him in Japan.

Charlotte was predeceased by her husband of 66 years. She is survived by her three sons: Jay and his wife Pam (Hudson) of Greenville, SC, Everett and his wife Rachel (Cooper) of Rockville, MD, and Chandler and his wife Kathie (Harper) of Falmouth; six grandchildren: Julia TenBroeck and her husband Scott, Henry Sinnett, Daniel Sinnett and his wife Helen Hocknell, Carolyn Greenspon and her husband Jeff, Gregory Sinnett and his wife Marilyn, and David Sinnett and his wife Sara; four great grandchildren: Corrin, Hudson and Martin TenBroeck, and Maia Sinnett; Cliff's cousin Joanna Sinnett, and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful caregivers who supported her. Their kindness will always be appreciated.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Falmouth Congregational Church, 267 Falmouth Rd., Falmouth, ME 04105. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church or to the charity of your choice.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com for additional information and to sign Charlotte's online guestbook.

Arrangements under the direction of Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, Portland, ME.