GARDINER – Margaret “Peetie” Charette, passed away May 4, 2009, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Peetie was known for her quick wit and dry humor. One of her favorite sayings to her children and the people around her, when they would wish for things was, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” The loves of her life were her husband, daughter and son, and the joy she found in her work. Her lighthearted spirit and wisdom touched everyone she met. She began her career in medical laboratory science at MaineGeneral Medical Center in 1980. In 1991, she became director of the Medical Laboratory Technology Program, a cooperative effort between the University of Maine and MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta. Peetie’s passionate dedication to educating medical laboratory technicians is evident in the program’s success, which included a statewide program she envisioned in the late 90s. Her dedication to “her” students continued even after her retirement, volunteering her time to provide oversight and direction of the Medical Technology Program of Maine since she stepped down from managing the program. Peetie was always striving to be a better educator. Taking advantage of the University of Maine at Augusta’s distant learning compressed video system and working in partnership with the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Peetie was instrumental in combining the University of Maine at Augusta and the University of Maine at Presque Isle programs into the Medical Laboratory Technology Program of Maine. One-third of MaineGeneral’s lab technicians are graduates of the programs. Peetie is survived by her best friend and soul mate, her husband, Russell; daughter, Amy Jean; son, Joseph and his wife, Kate, of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; mother, Helena Law; brother, Mark Law and his wife, Roxann; sister, Amy L. Charette and her husband, Gene, of Phoenix; aunts, Eloise Law, Manon Smith, Beulah Smith, and Marine Veilleux and husband, Larry; nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Gardiner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, 361 Old Belgrade Road, Augusta, ME 04330.
MARGARET ‘PEETIE’ CHARETTE
