Doraine Smith Austin Obituary (1927 - 2014)

AUGUSTA ~ Doraine “Doreen” Smith Austin passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday, December 12, 2014 at the age of 87. Doreen was born November 6, 1927 in Augusta to Loring R. and Anastasie (Giroux) Smith. She attended schools in Augusta, graduating from Cony High School in 1945. Christmas Day 1946, while on a date with another young man, she met the love of her life, Barclay “Bart” Austin. A year later, on Christmas, they became engaged and the following Christmas, December 25, 1948, they were married. The early years of their marriage were spent in the 3rd floor apartment of the Austin family farm in Vassalboro until the birth of their first child, Dorie. While they never returned to the farm, they did return to Vassalboro, moving into the house that Bart built on land adjoining his family’s farm. Dorie was joined by a sister, Rae-Lynn which completed their biological family, but Doreen and Bart opened their home and their hearts first to their younger siblings, then as years passed, their nieces and nephews, and, eventually, friends of Dorie and Rae-Lynn. Even in the early years, when money was tight, there was always room at their table for one more. Doreen was employed for more than 30 year by New England Telephone as a Clerk and, later a Line Assigner before her retirement in 1982. She had been a member of the New England Telephone Pioneers, serving as a past Secretary for her local chapter and enjoyed the monthly lunches. She had also been actively involved with Girl Scouts, Riverside 4-H, Vassalboro PTA and the Riverside Study Club. Doreen was a talented artist with varied interests and took classes in tole painting, lamp shade making and quilling. She was also an excellent cook known for her fabulous pie crusts; a skill which she passed on to her niece, Rebecca, and grandson, JJ. Family was a huge part of her life, not only the family she made with Bart, but her extended family of sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews that now stretches into the 4th generation. She looked forward to the annual Smith Family gatherings: a picnic on July 4th and the Christmas Party for which she always made kielbasa and cabbage. She faithfully attended all the family events: bridal showers, baby showers, graduations. She even attended a Grandparents Day event as surrogate grandmother for a nephew whose own grandmother lived in Japan. One of her last outings (and her only internet experience) was a trip to Vermont to see her granddaughter, Abby, at Norwich University which was faithfully documented on Facebook – despite her protests. Doreen loved the card games that would break out after almost every family meal, and had her own unique scoring system for To Heck With It. No matter what you bid, she would “fix” it for you. Before Bart retired, Doreen enjoyed joining him at banking conventions and was particularly fond of New Orleans, which they visited twice. She loved to show off her Shrimp Scampi that she learned to make in a Spouse Program. After Bart retired, they split their time between their homes in Vassalboro and Vero Beach, Florida. She loved being a grandmother and doted on her favorite granddaughter, Abby, and favorite grandson, JJ. Doreen was predeceased by her husband, Bart, in 2009 and has missed him every day since his passing. She is with him now and probably whipping up a rhubarb pie as you read this. She was also predeceased by her parents; three brothers, John, Richard and Thomas; five sisters, Mary Eugley, Margaret Shea, Ola Anthony, Pearl Tregembo, Annie Downs. She is survived by her daughters, Dorie “Doree” Austin of Vassalboro and Rae-Lynn and husband John Jansen of Winthrop; two very beloved grandchildren, Abigail and John J. Jansen, Jr.; one brother, L. Frank “Buddy” Smith; two sisters, Nancy and husband Carroll “Pidgie” York, and Eula “Laddie” Patterson; her “adopted” daughter Rika (Kanda) and husband Naotoshi Yasuhara of Chiba, Japan, several sisters- and brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews and loving friends. Doreen and Bart came from poor families and truly embodied the idea of giving to those in need. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in her memory to a charity such as The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, March of Dimes, Shriners Hospital, American Cancer Society, American Lung, Operation Smile, etc. They would particularly ask that, since she was born on Sand Hill, that you consider the families who lost their homes in last week’s fire. Visiting hours will be Tuesday, December 16 from 5 pm to 8 pm at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church Street, Augusta. Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 17 at 10 am at the funeral home, followed by a committal service at 12 noon at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery Chapel on Mount Vernon Road. Memories, condolences, photos, and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com