AUGUSTA – (Quoted passages are hers) “Vivian A. Dennett, 79, of 47 Fieldstone Dr. in Augusta, passed peacefully at,” Maine General Rehabilitation and Long Term Care at Glenridge in Augusta on the afternoon of March 18, 2023, following a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Vivian was born in Augusta at the Augusta General Hospital March 12, 1944, the daughter of John J. and Regina E. Vautier. Vivian graduated from Cony High School in 1962 and later received her associates degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Maine in Augusta. She continued her studies at UMA for a total of three and a half years and completed all but her student teaching.”

“Directly out of high school, Vivian took her first job at Central Maine Power Company and retired in 2001 after 30 years with the company.” During her successful career at CMP, from 1962 to 1981, she was analyzing and processing data for the Plant Accounting Department under various titles. After working full-time from 1962 to 1964 and then part time while caring for her children, she returned to a full-time position in 1981 as an accounting supervisor, a senior accountant on the Work Management Project, and senior business analyst and supervisor in the Plant Accounting Department, March, 1997 until retirement in 2001.

“Vivian had a lifelong interest in history. She and her husband, David, a retired Augusta teacher, lectured throughout the Kennebec County area about Augusta history for over 25 years.” Her involvement began with a presentation she made in the mid-1980s at an Adult Ed history class using slides made from a collection of old Augusta postcards. Using this presentation as a format, hundreds of slides, old post cards and photos were added to the presentation over subsequent years.

Following David’s graduation from UMF, Vivian lived in a small home in the Mayfair neighborhood and then moved to Quimby Street in Augusta and lived in two different historic homes there for 25 years. In 1999 she moved from Augusta to East Winthrop to live on Lake Cobbosseecontee overlooking the historic lighthouse on Ladies Delight Island. There she and David focused on building their collection of slides around and about Lake Cobbosseecontee. Overall interest in and love of the lake had started in the early 1980s while spending summers in a cottage on Rocky Point in Monmouth. Both had also enjoyed many days fishing, swimming, and picnicking at Island Park as children. In 2013 they sold their “Lakehouse” and moved a short distance away to the Heritage Wood Association where they resided for seven years prior to moving back to Augusta to a new house they had constructed in the Fieldstone Place development.

“After Vivian retired from CMP, she continued her interest in history, was active in and a vice president of the Kennebec Historical Society and a trustee of Old Fort Western. She was also a member of the Kennebec Valley Garden Club, the Augusta Nature Club as well as CAMRA, CMP’s retiree association. She also loved to travel, enjoyed many vacations in Ocean Park,” and she and David wintered for many years in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Vivian was predeceased by her parents John and Regina; and her brother, John Vautier.

She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 59 years, David Dennett of Augusta; their daughter, Karen Rossignol and her husband Vincent of Norridgewock, son John Dennett and his wife Heidi of Augusta; sisters Jeanne Maxim and her husband David of Georgia, and Mary Lou Bumford of Colorado, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Vautier of Augusta, brother-in-law, Barry Dennett and his wife Judy of Augusta; granddaughters Arielle and her husband Blaine Bacon and their children, Vincent, Blaine, Christopher, and Emmett; Joelle and her husband Alex Gapter and their son, Daniel; Victoria and her husband Wynn Kanagy and their son, Oliver; twins Grace Rossignol; and Faith and her husband Jordan Brann and their daughter, Maria; Alyssah Dennett and her fiancé Ryley Leavitt; grandson, Ashton Dennett; and step-grandchildren, Olivia, Ashley, and Kyle Olson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

“One of Vivian’s greatest pleasures was spending time with her beloved grandchildren. Her homes were always filled with items for them to enjoy, such as dolls, doll houses, trucks, books, and fancy old dress-up clothes. She was enormously proud of them and was supportive of their interests and activities.” As well, she had a huge collection of antique hats, and so enjoyed taking group photos of guests wearing one of her unique hats! She had quite a sense of humor.

“Relatives and friends are invited to a ‘Celebration of Vivian’s Life’ to be held at her home at 47 Fieldstone Drive on Sunday, April 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Please feel free to stop by and share your memories and photos of Vivian with her wonderful family.”

Note: This obituary was written in part (direct quotations) by Vivian many years ago in one of her favorite college writing courses with a few later revisions. And we are certain that Vivian would want to give thanks to Maine General Alfond Center for Health, Maine General Alzheimer’s Care Center, and Maine General Rehabilitation and Long Term Care at Glenridge, for the years of love and devoted care! She could not have asked for better!

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, ME 04330. Condolences, stories, and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

“Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the

Kennebec Historical Society,

107 Winthrop St.,

Augusta, ME 04330”

or perhaps the

Alzheimer’s Care Center,

154 Dresden Ave.,

Gardiner, ME 04345

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