BUCKSPORT – Grace Katherine Cressman, 89, died unexpectedly but peacefully at home in Bucksport with family at her side on Jan. 25, 2014. She had been in declining health for about three years.
In her own words she was “born in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 25, 1924, – the youngest of four children born to the late Joseph B. Matthews and Grace (Ison) Matthews Franklin. The family moved to Washington, D.C., when she was four and then moved to New York City where they lived until Grace was 10 years old. At that time, they moved to Washington, (Warren County), N.J., where she lived until coming to Maine in 2004.” She thoroughly enjoyed living at Sunbury Village in Bangor for four years where she made some good friends.
She attended Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., for a year then left to get married to Wayne Cressman in 1943. He joined the Navy and, as it was during World War II, they lived for a time in Massachusetts where he was stationed. Their first daughters (identical twins) were born in Boston during that time period. After the war, they settled back in Washington, N.J., where they had both grown up. Their third daughter was born there seven years later. She was a homemaker who also worked for a number of years in retail and above all, she was a consistently loving and generous mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed poetry, politics, watching golf and tennis on TV and staying in touch with her loving family. These last few years, she came to love the company of her granddog, Cassie, who predeceased her in August 2013.
She is survived by three daughters, Diana Golini and husband, Vern, of N.J., Evelyn Yearwood and husband, George, of Pa., and Judy Marinelli and husband, Jim, of Maine; grandchildren, Jill Beenders and husband, Rich, of N.J., Tina Jessee and husband, Doug, of Ind., Jason Gulick of Pa., Anthony Golini and wife, Kristin, of Mass., Matthew Paulauskas and wife, Renee, of Maine, and Joshua Paulauskas of Maine; great-grandchildren, Sara, Emily and Ryan Beenders, Tyler and Nathan Paulauskas, Anthony and Emily Golini.
At her request, there will be no services but the family is planning a celebration of her life this summer with all friends welcome. Special thanks to Hancock County HomeCare & Hospice for all their compassion these past three plus years, Brennan-Alley and Associates, Premier Home Care, Dr. Susan Ostertag, Dr. BethAnn Lieberman and the staff at BRHC and granddaughter-in-law Renee who provided great care and made sure Nan Grace was never without her beloved chocolate cake with buttercream icing. Gifts in her memory may be made to Hancock County HomeCare at P.O. Box 655, Ellsworth ME; or Special Olympics Maine, Attn. Linda, 125 John Roberts Road No. 5, South Portland, ME 04106.
Grace Katherine Cressman
