BAR HARBOR – Harriette Mabel (Buzynski) Mitchell, 88, died June 6, 2009, at a Bar Harbor health care facility. She was born Sept. 17, 1920, in Thomaston, at the Tillson homestead, the daughter of Francis L. and Eunice D. (Mayo) Tillson. She was a graduate of Thomaston High School. She went on to Maine General Hospital and Westbrook Junior College, where she became a licensed practical nurse. Later she attended Boston University Nursing School and completed training as an enterostomal therapist, becoming the first registered ostomy nurse in Maine. Her career as a nurse spanned her lifetime. She worked in Portland, Rockland, Bangor and Mount Desert Island hospitals and provided home care to ostomy patients when needed. She met her first husband, Frank Buzynski, in Portland, where they married and lived. Frank was a deputy sheriff and was killed in the line of duty in 1959 at age 43. Three years later, she married Dennis Mitchell of Bar Harbor, he died in 1978. She worked as a nurse at Mount Desert Island Hospital for many years. Always helping others, she volunteered with the Reach to Recovery program, Senior Companion program, Eastern Agency on Aging, the Maine American Cancer Society and Friends of Acadia. She traveled to Ecuador and the Dominican Republic with Hancock County Medical Mission. She received many awards for her volunteer work, including the Jefferson Award. She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Bar Harbor and cherished her church family. Her strong Christian faith sustained her and inspired those around her. Harriette is survived by her sons, Neil F. Buzynski and wife, Brigitte, of Germany, John E. Buzynski and wife, Donna, of New Hampshire, and David T. Buzynski and wife, Barbara, of Connecticut; grandchildren, Andrea Gerrish and husband, Dr. Matt Gerrish, Denise Murphy and husband, Peter, all of Bar Harbor, Patty Buzynski of New Hampshire, and Christina Phinney and husband, Clint, of Florida; great-grandchildren, Rebecca and Hutchin Gerrish, Kieren Murphy and Ryan Phinney; sister, Leah Mayo Traunstein; sister-in-law, Rose Tillson; and former daughter-in-law, Suzanne Mitchell, her special friend and caregiver. She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Frank; second husband, Dennis; brother, George Tillson; and brother-in-law, Dr. Maurice Traunstein Jr. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, June 12, at First Baptist Church, 46 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor. Interment will be held noon Saturday, June 13, at Thomaston Cemetery, Thomaston. Individuals wishing to speak as part of either service are asked to contact the Rev. Records at 207-288-3563. Contributions in Harriette’s memory may be made to Baptist Youth Camp, P.O. Box 5540, Ellsworth, ME 04605. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 49 Eden St., Bar Harbor. Condolences may be expressed online at www.jordanfernald.com.
HARRIETTE MABEL (BUZYNSKI) MITCHELL
