Marie Elaine Pettengill

WINTHROP – Marie Elaine (Chase) Pettengill, 83, of Winthrop, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, with her loving daughter by her side after a long battle with dementia.

Born in Gardiner on Sept. 6, 1941 to Lawrence and Rena (Weeks) Chase, she was the second of seven children.

Marie attended school in Gardiner and entered the workforce at an early age. She worked at Lipman Poultry, W.T. Grants, Hallowell Shoe Co., and Saunders Manufacturing before her retirement. On Nov. 19, 1960, Marie married the love of her life, Alfred. They moved to Winthrop where the couple lived in the same home until their passing.

Marie worked hard to make a home for her family and raised two children of whom she was very proud. She always was there for whatever they wanted to do, within reason of course. This included providing fresh baked goods, quite frequently whoopie pies, for bake sales or some other tasty treat for a potluck supper. She also was a softball coach for her daughter’s softball team for many years.

She was very handy with a sewing machine, and loved to make clothes for her daughter, as well as making many Barbie doll clothes for her as well. Later on, she would turn these skills to making stuffed dolls, many of which became Christmas presents for family and friends. This led to all manner of crafting projects.

In her younger days, she played softball on a women’s softball team, Ron’s Rockets. Many memorable moments were made during the couple of games played against the WABK softball team.

She loved music, particularly country music and the music of her youth. She also enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball and football, and she made sure she was chaperone at the annual 8th grade Boston trip to see the Red Sox with each of her children. She could also be found in the stands at high school basketball games and loved traveling to the basketball tournaments in February to cheer on the Winthrop Ramblers.

Marie was gregarious, helpful, loving, and caring. She was always willing to volunteer her time, and if she could be of some help, she would be there. This was very evident to those attending the Winthrop Congregational Church. She spent many years serving at their food bank and chowder meals, helping with services, and representing as a delegate. She was proud to accept a position as administrative assistant for the church, a position which she held for several years. Marie also loved to write poems and tributes to and for the people she loved.

A lover of all animals, even if they weren’t her own, one of her favorite things to do was to watch the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels that frequented the feeders around the house.

In the past year, Marie cherished the relationship she had with her niece, Linda Dyer, who helped with her caregiving. Some of her favorite things to do with Linda were go for rides to listen to music, have lunch, and get ice cream on the way home.

Marie was predeceased by her husband, Alfred W. Pettengill; her parents; and three of her siblings, Lawrence “Bub” Chase, Michael Chase, and Marion Anair.

She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Pettengill and his wife, Suzanne Werfelman Pettengill, her daughter, Lisa Waitt and her partner, Lonnie Berger; her older brother, Charles Chase, and younger brothers Timothy Chase and Peter Chase.

The family would like to thank Beacon Hospice for all of the love and support they gave Marie and Lisa over the last nine months.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to:

PALS No-Kill Cat Shelter,

188 Case Rd.,

Winthrop, ME 04364,

palscatshelterwinthrop.com,

or your favorite local animal rescue location.