SEARSPORT – Charlotte Croissant Rivers, 99, died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at Harbor Hill, Belfast, surrounded by loving family and devoted caregivers. She was born May 17, 1912, in Bath, the eldest of four children of Georgiana M. (Duncan) and Frank Elias Seavey.
Charlotte attended schools in Medford, Mass., graduating from Medford High School in 1929. She completed Jackson College of Tufts University in 1931 and wed Dr. Edward D. Croissant that same year. They shared 10 years of their lives and two wonderful sons. In 1941 Charlotte married Almon Sidney Rivers of Searsport and Stoneham, Mass. Together, they raised her sons and their eight children on a farm in Searsport, where she resided until this summer. Known for being resilient, thrifty, and resourceful, Charlotte made the transition to country life with great success. She took up organic gardening with zeal, growing and processing all the produce for her large family, as well as often supplying neighbors. With the help of her mother, she also hand made nearly all of the family’s clothing and did many other crafts and building projects as well. Her love of perennial flower gardening has taken root in many of her offspring. Most of these busy years she also worked outside the home, waitressing, caring for patients in a nursing home, and retailing fabrics at The Maine Textile Center. Before her retirement in her early 70s, she had accumulated lots of bargains from this final career, that kept her busy for many years creating gifts and filling needs for others. “The Farm,” as all extended family and friends have known it, was always a welcome place with a warm kitchen hub and sumptuous meals that seemed to come from nowhere and stretch to feed unlimited guests and visitors. Her family “grew” through the lineage and also by “adoption” of friends drawn to the unconditional love and practical caring Charlotte, mom, Aunt Char, grammie, great-grammie, could always put forth. The original “supermom,” Charlotte managed to squeeze in lessons in sewing, etiquette, appreciation of classical music and literary classics, a hobby of home design, hours of crosswords, PTA meetings, 4-H, classes with the Cooperative Extension and Grange. A member of Green Lawn Cemetery Association for more than 40 years, she served many of those as secretary.
Charlotte is survived by her children and their spouses, Robert and Maxine (Gamble) Croissant of Denton, Texas, Richard and June (Brooks) Croissant of Bow, N.H., Priscilla and Butch Lamb, of Pasadena, Texas, Sally and Cliff Philbrick of Monroe, Almon S. “Bud” and Sue (Clark) Rivers of Searsport, Rebecca (Shroyer) Rivers and George Klueber of Searsport, Sydney and Steve Greenlaw of Dyer Brook, Ruth and Charles Weymouth of Milford, Georgiana “Joy” and Glenn Baker of Searsport and Eva and Aaron Blethen of Swanville and Appleton. “Grammie Rivers” has many, more than 30, great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren from Maine to California and scattered between. Due to her loving influence through the generations, they remain close at heart. She is also loved and celebrated by the children and grandchildren of her siblings, and by friends who have become family throughout the years. In addition to her parents, Charlotte was predeceased by her first husband, Edward D. Croissant; by her husband of 47 years, Almon S. “Sid” Rivers; her siblings and their spouses, Duncan and Jenny Seavey, Priscilla (Seavey) and Gunnar Bjorkman, Mayhew and Carol Seavey; her son, Frank S. Rivers; and two great-grandchildren, Sydney Bernard and Chris Hart. Special appreciation goes out to Kim, who provided direct care and led Charlotte’s care team for many years. Her recent “family” of loving caregivers, who – together with family – enabled Charlotte to remain in her own home until recently, are also appreciated. Sincere thanks to the amazing staff of Harbor Hill, who nurtured us all and gave us support in her journey.
Family and friends will gather for visitation 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at Green Lawn Cemetery, Route 131, Swanville, with a fellowship time afterward at Bud and Sue Rivers’ home, 135 Nickerson Road, Searsport. A celebration of life open house will be held beginning 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at the home of Sally and Cliff Philbrick, 199 East Main St., Monroe. Those wishing to make memorial donations in lieu of flowers are encouraged to support Green Lawn Cemetery, care of John Rohde, Treasurer, 12 Dockside Lane, Belfast, ME 04915; Angel Flight NE, Lawrence Municipal Airport, 492 Sutton St., North Andover, MA 01845 or the charity of your choice.