WINTERPORT – Carmen Amber Hopper Weisheit, 62, passed away peacefully of heart failure June 26, 2008, at her home. A longtime resident of Hallowell and Augusta, Carmen resided in Winterport for the past 10 years. She was the daughter of Anna M. Smith-Soule and Eugene Clark Smith of Granite Hill Farmingdale, where she attended and graduated Halldale High School in 1963. Carmen raised two boys from her first marriage as a single mother. Later in life, she schooled in nursing at the University of Maine – Augusta in becoming a registered nurse in 1984. Her nursing career began at Augusta General Hospital and progressed to becoming director of nurses at Robinson Health Care, Gardiner. The mature portion of her career in geriatrics was spent setting up and directing nursing home units at Augusta Mental Health Institute, 1984-1994. During those years, she was an Augusta resident with her second husband, Joseph; two sons, Jack and William Hopper; and two stepsons, James and John Weisheit. As part of Augusta Mental Health Institute downsizing, she again originated and directed a nursing home unit for mental health residents at Mount St. Joseph’s Facility, Waterville. In 1998 Carmen was recruited to Stillwater Nursing Home Facility, Bangor, transferring to a sister facility, Ross Manor Nursing Home, where she worked for six years. Her cardiomyopathy became severe, resulting in social security disability status. In 1998 a positive housesharing arrangement with friend, former colleague and registered nurse, Marcia Smith, resulted in the move to Winterport. Carmen endured a number of pacemaker surgeries throughout the past eight years with a final five-week stay at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. Carmen is survived by her mother, Anna M. Smith; a sister, Beth Smith Parrish; her son, Harold William Hopper and his wife, Kelley and two grandsons, all of Port Orange Fla.; a second sister, Deborah Duval and a niece of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; a brother, Buzz Smith of Atlanta; her son, Jack l. Hopper and wife, Michelle and three grandsons and a granddaughter of Vassalboro; her husband, Joseph A. Weisheit now of Winterport; and stepsons, James E. Weisheit of Kennebunk and John J. Weisheit of Vassalboro. Carmen’s wishes were to be cremated. A memorial service for friends and colleagues will be planned around her birthday in early October in Bangor. Donations in her memory may be directed to St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor. Condolences may be expressed to the family through her husband, care of Marcia Smith, 19 Twining Lane, Winterport, ME 04496.
CARMEN AMBER HOPPER WEISHEIT
