Thirma J. Blethen Obituary (1927 - 2013)

Thirma J. Blethen, 86 years young, of Augusta, Maine, entered into an eternal rest on, Friday, November 8, 2013, after a long, three year battle with cancer. She was born in a farmhouse in St. Albans, Maine on March 12th, 1927, the daughter of Merle and Methyl Johnson. Six years later, the farmhouse burnt and the Johnson family moved to Springfield, M.A. where Thirma graduated in 1945, from Springfield High School. After high school, she was employed at Buxton’s Wallet Factory and later relocated to Moretown, V.T. where she worked at Indian Curtain Factory. On March 18th, 1956 in Belfast, Maine she married the love of her life, Perry G. Blethen and from then on the two were inseparable. Their lives took them to seven different destinations within the first three years of marriage. In 1960, the couple decided to finally plant their roots in Augusta, Maine where they raised two beautiful girls, Cynthia Anne and Frances Helen. Thirma was an active participant in her community, where she took up cake decorating, rug hooking, quilting and was a member of the community exchange. In private Thirma was a self-taught pianist and enjoyed singing hymns in her local church, but her true passion was the unconditional love and affection she had for her family and those that she held dear to her heart. Thirma is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Anne and her husband, James Cipriano of Augusta; a daughter Frances Helen Simard and her husband Dennis of Chelsea; two grandchildren, Aleana Marie Krupinsky of Farmingdale, Donald Alexander Simard of Chelsea and her great-granddaughter Harper Simard. She is also survived by her brothers, Joseph Johnson of Belfast, Everette Johnson and his wife Rita of Connecticut, Arnold Johnson and his wife Terry of Florida; and many loved brother and sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her favorite sister and best friend Evelyn Candage, a sister Marie Backus, and brother L. Ivan Johnson, along with many sadly missed brother and sister-in-laws; a niece and nephews. Committal services will be held at 10am on Friday, November 15, in the chapel at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Burial will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Civic Center Drive. The family would like to thank the staff at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn for the great care that Thirma received. In lieu of flowers please make donations to: Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice Foundation, 17 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240 Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, One Church St., Augusta where memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.