WATERVILLE – Margaret Frances Doherty Straffin, 79, of Waterville passed away peacefully on March 27, 2021 at Country Manor Nursing Home in Coopers Mill after a long illness. She was born in Brockton, Mass. on Dec. 2, 1941, the daughter of John Henry Doherty and Alma A. Moquin Doherty, both deceased.

Marge leaves behind a loving husband of 45 years, Norman I. Straffin, who shared a long and happy marriage. Marge also leaves behind a sister Kathleen Ann Bunar of Bridgewater, Mass. and a brother John Michael Doherty of Carver, Mass. and many nieces and nephews.

Marge attended schools in Abington, Mass. and at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Mass. where she earned a degree in the field of accounting. This accounting degree served Marge well as she moved up the ladder from clerk to accounting and management. Marge used to kid around and say that she never met a job she did not like and this was the truth.

Marge met her future husband, Norman Straffin, at his Straffin’s Coffee Shop located in Brockton, Mass. This is the coffee shop she visited each morning for her coffee to sip on her drive to Boch Motors where she was employed as office manager. Prior to that Marge was employed in Boston, Mass. by Industrial Finance Corporation.

In 1975, Marge and Norm left Brockton, Mass. in a 31 foot Holiday Rambler travel trailer and traveled for several months extensively throughout the United States and Canada before settling in Hemet, Calif.

In Hemet they opened a restaurant called the “Bostonian” which became one of the busiest at that time in Hemet. After a few years of operation the property came for sale and they purchased the property which also included another fast food restaurant. They resided in Hemet for a few years while building their scenic mountain home in Idyllwild, Calif.

Marge loved to cook and over the many years many friends and family dinners were held at their mountain home in Idyllwild. They almost lost their mountain home in 1996 from one of the many wildfires that strike California during the dry and windy months. The home was evacuated for five days until a handle on the fire was made. The fire came within one half mile of their home.

After operating the restaurant for several years the Bostonian Restaurant was sold and leased.

Marge obtained her California Real Estate License and sold real estate in Idyllwild for years. Meanwhile, Norm obtained his general contractors license from the State of California and was building homes in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area. Marge worked for a local broker in the Palm Springs area for a while until Norm obtained his brokers license. A mortgage company was formed under Norm’s brokers license which was called “Inland Cities Mortgage” which provided new purchase loans and re­financing and this office was located in San Jacinto, Calif. This worked well for Norm and Marge and provided the buyers of homes with in house financing. Over the years real estate holdings were acquired.

In 1999 Norm and Marge decided to make changes to the commercial property in Hemet. The Bostonian Restaurant was modernized and the fast food restaurant was taken down and rebuilt as a modern restaurant called “Frogs”.

This restaurant was set and operated by Norm and Marge for a short time before selling the business. This restaurant had a large assortment of ice cream products and a fast food restaurant with a drive thru. This became one of the most attractive restaurants on Florida Avenue in Hemet. In 2004 the entire property was sold to a San Diego Real Estate Broker who owned the property where the new San Diego Stadium is now built.

Between 2003 and 2004 Norm and Marge started to sell out of California and returned to the New England area settling in Maine. A state they long cherished. This was accompished by 1031 Real Estate Exchanges of like kind properties. Rental properties were acquired throughout the Kennebec and Androscoggin counties. Marge was a member of “CAHA” Capital Area Housing Association.

Norm and Marge loved boating and were active members of the Wiscasset Yacht Club. Marge was not a lover of the open ocean but with the yacht club located on Wiscasset Harbor and adjacent to the Sheepscot River traveling the river and visiting Boothbay Harbor was always enjoyable. A common trip throughout the summer was going to Five Islands near the mouth of the river and ocean and enjoying the food from the Five Islands Lobster Company. A Five Islands yacht club mooring always seemed to be available when arriving. After taking a short dingy ride to the wharf a delightful meal was always enjoyed. If after a nice meal and watching the local lobstermen and other boaters coming and going sometimes they just spent the night there. Another ride they enjoyed was traveling the Sheepscot River and a narrow waterway over to the Kennebec River and a nice meal at the Kennebec Tavern with docks on the river for tying up.

Norm and Marge owned time shares at the “Winners Circle” in Solana Beach, Calif. and traveled throughout the United States, Hawaii and Canada with trading of their time share. An annual trip to the Lake Tahoe area every fall was most enjoyable. Which always included a little gambling on the Nevada side.

After returning to Maine, Marge became a licensed realtor in the State of Maine.

Many thanks to both Beacon and Waterville hospices during Marge’s long journey to be with the Lord. The compassion and care That Marge received during her last weeks will longly be remembered.

After all of our many years of marriage all we say is that we both had a wonderful ride.

A private memorial service will be held later and burial will be in Melrose Cemetary in Brockton, Mass. Cremation services have been entrusted to Brookings-Smith in Bangor, Maine.