OLD TOWN – The seasons change and spring is almost here, but for the children of Waneta Amero, spring will arrive this year without our precious mother. Our mother died today, March 7, 2010, in her own home just as she would have wanted surrounded by her beloved family as she passed from her earthly home on Bennoch Road, Old Town, into the arms of Jesus and was reunited with her beloved daughter, Majel. She was born (Maisie) Waneta (Kinney) Amero in Brookton on Nov. 9, 1926, the daughter of Budwood and Phyllis (Price) Kinney. Our Mother was a beautiful person. She always put others before herself and made our house a home where all were welcomed with open arms, hugs and kisses. Because she was a woman of deep faith in her God, she was able to handle the many changes in her life with grace and bravery. How can one describe how beautiful a person she was and make the world understand that it wasn’t just because she was our mother. She truly was so much more than that. People were totally amazed at her ability that at the age of 83 she still mowed her own lawn, which consisted of over two acres. She was still working in her flower garden and feeding the many birds that visited her feeders until her health completely failed her beginning in September and brought everything to a complete standstill. When she was in her 70s she would make the two-hour drive on weekends to Brookton to take care of her mother so that her mother could stay in her own home until she passed away. Our life will continue on without our mother because it has to, but we are so fortunate to have the many wonderful memories she has left us with. There was that so familiar sound of her wrapping up our presents on Christmas Eve with the famous green and red tissue paper. We kids would be hovering around the upstairs register listening to this process long after we were supposed to be in bed. There were the trips from our home to Brookton to visit Grammy Kinney, trips to the hunting camp in Hemlock, located in Argyle, the camping trip to Moosehead Lake and just going on rides on a hot summer evening and count the number of animals we would see. And how about that camping trip to Moosehead Lake when Majel dropped her ice cream cone in the car, which our parents didn’t know about until we returned to the car a week later after our camping trip on a hot 4th of July week. The windows had to be rolled down for the entire trip home. So many more memories will come flooding back to us as we continue on without her. Memories of her every time we sit down and visit with each other eating one of her favorite dishes she used to prepare or walk through her house – our home – and touch her things. Life will go on, but as her children we are left no longer with the feeling of being children, but with the knowledge that we are now truly adults. She is survived by her husband and the father of her five children, Alton Amero of Alton, her daughter, Donna (Amero) Hatch and her husband, Howard and their son, Wesley Hatch and his wife, Melisa, all of Argyle; daughter, Joyce (Amero) Smith and her husband, Ralph and their children, Majel Beal and her husband, Matthew, Bobbi-Jo Dame and her husband, Roger, all of Jonesport, Ralph Smith Jr. of Boston and Jill Careccia and her husband, Brian, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; daughter, Majel (Amero) Lanham, who died on Sept. 21, 1983, in Jacksonville, Fla., gave our Mother three grandchildren, Alry Lanham and his wife, Tracy, of Eddington, Shelton Lanham and his wife, Vicki, and Penny Compton and her husband, Marvin, both of Bangor; daughter, Jane (Amero) Albert and her husband, Gary their children, Gina Albert, Jenny Nakai and her husband, Kevin, and Joani Thompson and her husband, Ben, and Gary Albert Jr. and his wife, Becky, and Juanita Albert, all of Bridgton, N.J.; and her son, Greg Amero and his wife, Ann (Carey) of Argyle and their children, Lisa Harris and her husband, Steve, of Argyle and Adrian Amero and his wife, Denise, of Birmingham, Ala. She also leaves behind 15 great-grandchildren, Colby Hatch, Micki and Maverick Beal, William and Olivia Lanham, Majel, Sheb and Logan Lanham, Sammy and Taylor Compton, Ashley and Levi Catlett, Kevin and Abby Nakai, Gracie, twins, Gabriella and Isabella Jane, Gary Albert III, Drake and Ben Thompson, Maisiejane Albert, Cassie and Brady Harris and Laney Amero. Our mother is also survived by her siblings, Jessie (Kinney) Gilman, Louise (Kinney) Shain and her husband, Joy, and Jean (Kinney) Gilman, all of Brookton. In addition to being predeceased by her parents and her daughter, Majel (Amero) Lanham, she was predeceased by her brothers, Russell Kinney and Gerald Kinney; and her sister, Karleen (Kinney) Gilman. There were many people who have been blessed by our mother, but there were many who became a blessing to her and her family. We were able to keep our Mother in her home through the efforts of her son, daughters, grandchildren, CancerCare of Maine and Community Health and Counseling Service and their wonderful staff. Mama didn’t want a funeral so there will be no public viewing, but a private graveside service will be held in the spring at the convenience of her family. Those who wish to remember our mother in some special way can do so with donations made in her memory to Community Health and Counseling Service, P.O. Box 425, Bangor, ME 04402 or you may plant a flower in your garden in her memory. She loved her flowers and when that flower you plant blooms in your garden you will think of her and what she meant to you. She truly was one of God’s most beautiful flowers on this Earth. Life will go on, but we will never be the same without her. This obituary was written from the heart of her children who wanted everyone to know how much she meant to her family. “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. ” Arrangements by Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. www.birminghamfuneralhome.com <
MAISIE WANETA (KINNEY) AMERO
