Tekla Ann (Pushard) Truman

CHELSEA – Tekla Ann (Pushard) Truman passed away peacefully after a beautiful life on Nov. 27, 2024. She was born on Aug. 25, 1940, to Kenneth and Ruth (Curtis) Pushard. She spent her last few years raising hell at Glenridge, where she got phenomenal care.

Tekla spent many years working at Riverview Federal Credit Union, after raising her kids and taking care of her grandchildren. Having provided daycare to way too many children to count, Tekla was known as “Ma” to many and “Nana” to even more. She would regularly provide spaghetti suppers to the football team, make sure the police on duty got holiday dinners, and would love any kids who walked through her door. She was known to have a few mudslides and cause a ruckus, all in good fun. A highlight of her year was Halloween, when she could be seen passing out candy and making a fuss over the costumes. She would spend hours at Christmas time stringing cranberries and popcorn for her tree with her late husband, Albert. In making the holiday season special, they would buy entirely too many gifts, making it difficult to even get into the living room on Christmas morning. The two of them would go for their rides on Sunday morning, then stop by to see the grandkids on their way home. She was quick to keep the kids overnight, developing a special relationship with her great granddaughter, Kaycie. She always made sure to have Grapenut ice cream and Dixie cups for when they were together. 

Tekla regularly was heard saying “you leave that baby alone, come see your Nana” then she’d wrap them up in a tight hug “protecting” them from their parents giving them heck. That same love continued through to her community, where she was well known and respected. She had many friends, who she would have breakfast or dinner with, usually at Dave’s Diner or Friendly’s. If she had the kids, there was always dessert involved (even if it was a brownie at breakfast). She will be missed dearly, but we take solace in knowing she and Albert are back together again. 

Tekla is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert; brother Kenneth Pushard and son in law Donnie Bussey. 

Tekla is survived by her children, Vickie Bussey; Barry Truman and wife Stephanie; Lisa Boucher and husband Howard; Michael Truman and wife Nancy. Grandchildren Jessica Solaguren and husband Cecil; Jennice Dawson and husband Cody; Jacob Truman and wife Bailey and Alexander Bussey. Great grandchildren Kaycie Bell and husband Codey; Trevor, Brantley and Lilliana Dawson; and Holdyn and Mason Robinson. Great-great grandchildren Brantley and Jamison Bell. Siblings Linda Cailler and husband Donald; Patricia Chickering and husband Clarence. 

A time of visitation and farewell will be held Saturday, December 7 at Staples Funeral Home and Cremation, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner from 2-4 p.m. Please feel free to wear casual dress or even your favorite Christmas

attire – she sure did love her wide variety of Christmas shirts this time of year.

A committal service will be held Monday, June 2, 2025, at 11 a.m., for Tekla and Albert in Oak Grove Cemetery, Plummer Steet, Gardiner.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tekla’s memory to: 

Maine General Glenridge Activities Department

40 Glenridge Dr.

Augusta, ME 04330

or

Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers

Attn: Development

93 Silver Street

Waterville, ME 04901