CAMDEN – Rita M. Griffin, 86, passed away peacefully Nov. 22, 2006, surrounded by her beloved grandchildren. She was born May 14, 1920, on Mer-asheen Island, Newfoundland, the daughter of Patrick J. Tobin and Anna (Travers) Tobin. The daughter of a whaling captain, she was as tough and flinty as the coastline of Newfoundland, where she was born, but lived for her grandchildren and great-grand-children. Their pictures covered every surface and the refrigerator of her Camden apartment. When volunteers from Kno-Wal-Lin home health agency and the hospice care group came to the Griffin home to take care of husband, James, they adopted Rita and continued their informal care and support until her death. She celebrated her heritage at every opportunity. Even at 86, her distinctive Newfoundland brogue was undisturbed by her long residence in the United States. She moved to Rockport 31 years ago to get closer to her grandchildren after living in Charlestown, Mass., for many years. She is survived by a brother, Edward Tobin of Newfoundland; daughter, Nancy Griffin of Thomaston; granddaughters, Griffin Meara, Aran Meara and Bridget Meara (Van Der Zee); and great-grandchildren, Matthew and Meara Van Der Zee, all of Portland. She was predeceased by her husband, James; and brothers, Patrick and Peter Tobin of Newfoundland. She is mourned by her special tea-drinking friends, Carol Forti, Ann McNally, Madeline “Mike” Dean, Cynthia Bosscher; and her personal driver, Emmet Meara. Services will be held 2 p.m. Monday at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. Burial will be held after at West Rockport Cemetery, Rockport. Those who wish may make memorial donations to American Stroke Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074.
RITA M. GRIFFIN
