SOUTH PORTLAND – Mary J. Kuch, 86, of Ridgeland Avenue, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2007, at a Portland hospital. Mary was born in Calais, a daughter of Carleton Edward and Esther Isabella Young LeSuer. She was educated in the Calais schools and graduated from Calais High School. She came to the South Portland area at the age of 18, and was a member of Brown’s Hill United Methodist Church, South Portland, for many years. Mary worked at the South Portland shipyard as a welder when she first came to South Portland and was later employed as a stitcher at Herman’s shoes for 27 years, until her retirement in 1986. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles F. Kuch. Surviving are her two daughters, Beverly J. Preston of Westbrook, and Carlene Thomp-son and her husband, Donald, of Hermon; a brother, Robert Young of Moosesup, Conn.; three grandchildren, Steven and Richard Preston of Westbrook, and Jeffrey Thompson and his wife, Katherine, of Windham; four great-grand-children, Robbie and Chelsea Preston of Westbrook, and Owen and Mary Thompson of Windham. There will be no visiting hours. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a memorial service 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at First United Methodist Church, 179 Ridgeland Ave., South Portland. Interment will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Hobbs Funeral Home, South Portland. Contributions may be made in her memory to First United Methodist Church, 179 Ridgeland Ave., South Portland, ME 04106.
MARY J. KUCH
