Kathryn Ouellette

Kathryn Susan Stanton Ouellette, 54, peacefully passed away at her home in Cumberland on January 9,2015, with her family by her side. Kathy had battled a brain tumor in 1996, stage III breast cancer in 1999 and stage IV ovarian cancer since June 25, 2012 fighting these various diseases for over 18 years.

Kathryn was born on June 25, 1960 in Barre, Vermont, the daughter of Hilmaine Plante Stanton and Richard Thomas Stanton. The family left Barre and relocated to Hanover, Massachusetts in 1961. Kathy was the second of six children.

Kathryn was a graduate of Hanover High School in 1978 and then continued her education at the University of Maine, Farmington graduating with a BS in Special and Elementary Education in 1982. It was at UMF that Kathy acquired many close friends and her future husband.

After graduation, Kathryn returned to teach at Lovering High School in Taunton, Ma and West Junior High in Brockton, Ma.

In August 1988, Kathryn married Mark Ouellette and within a year returned to Maine to be close to her collegiate friends. Kathy continued her teaching career as a special needs teacher at Lincoln Middle School guiding and mentoring hundreds of students, but her 26 year commitment to the youth of Portland ended last January due to her illness.

Kathryn was blessed with two daughters Kelsey Elizabeth 1992 and Jordan Kathryn in 1995. Kathy served on various booster groups and supported Greely Athletics including the women’s soccer, cross country, lacrosse and most importantly the alpine ski teams.The support continued on to the club soccer and alpine race teams at Saint Anselm College. Kathy also enjoyed summers at the beach and lake as well as a 22 year season pass holder at Sunday River.

Kathy loved the holiday season and spent her free time doing crafts including personalizing gifts, designing team banners, painting signs with quotes like “live well, laugh often” & “welcome to the lake” for family and friends.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years Mark and daughters Kelsey and Jordan of Cumberland, mother Hillie of Hanover MA, brother Thomas and wife Tina of Norton MA, sister Mary and husband John of North Reading, MA, brother Michael and wife Missy of Enola, PA, brother Matthew and partner Michaela of Boxford, MA, sister Elizabeth and husband Rob of Wilmington MA. and sister in law Louise Ouellette Quirion and husband Norm of Turner. Kathy is also survived by eighteen nieces and nephews, seven grand nieces and nephews, caring aunts, uncles and cousins throughout the New England Region. Kathryn was predeceased by her father Richard 1984, brother in law Gary Ouellette 1995 and mother in law Grace Ouellette 2012.

Kathy would like to thank the medical staffs of Dr. Jason Lachance of Maine Medical Center, Dr. Roger Inhorn of Mercy Oncology, and the nurses of VNA Hospice Care, especially the professional and personal care of nurse Lynne Lindsey, occupational therapist Michelle Rowland, acupuncturist David Bell and especially to dear friend Meg Wilson, to name a few. The family thanks all of the families, relatives, neighbors and coworkers that provided support, meals, gardening and other tasks difficult to do after an operation or while in a hospital bed.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to American Cancer Society for Saint Anselm College’s Relay for Life in care of Jordan Ouellette. Donations can be sent to: Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive #1507, Manchester, NH 03102 or online at Jordan Ouellette’s Relay For Life page at www.relayforlife.org

Prayers and thanks go out to the countless that have assisted us in this journey.

Friends and family are invited to attend a time of visitation on Friday January 16, 2015 from 3 to 7:00PM at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, Maine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday January 17, 2015 at 10:00AM in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yarmouth, Maine. Interment will be at a later date. On-line condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.