Rachel Damren Obituary (1933 - 2018)

Belgrade ~ Rachel (Stevens) Damren, 85, went to be with the Lord on November 14, 2018 after a courageous four year battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She was born on October 8, 1933 in Mt. Vernon to Leland G. & Marcia (Carl) Stevens. Rachel graduated from Farmington High School in 1952. In November of that year she married Richard H. Damren in Mt. Vernon. They spent most of their married lives in Belgrade raising their four children. She was very active in Girl Scouts with her daughters and for many years after. She was the first Junior Girl Scout Troop 416 leader when the Girl Scouts were first organized in Belgrade. Rachel was a stay-at-home mother until her youngest daughter was in sixth grade. At that time she began working at Belgrade Central School as the secretary for a few years before going on to become an Ed. Tech. in Oakland and Belgrade. She worked in the school district for 16 years. She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and enjoyed special times with her family. She brought joy and warmth into the lives of those she loved. She had been a member of the Belgrade Historical Society, Kennebec Valley Mother’s Club, and the Maine Genealogy Society. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, genealogy, and camping in Maine. She and Richard belonged to the Lakeside Promenaders Square Dance Club and later Marty Van Wart’s group. Rachel was predeceased by her parents, her sister Joyce Ladd and her husband Richard of Mt. Vernon, and her brother Douglas Stevens and his wife Karen also of Mt. Vernon. She leaves behind her husband of 66 years Richard H. Damren, her children Dianne Damren-Marschall and her husband Henry Marschall of Readfield, Sandra Pierce and her husband Edward of Sidney, Richard L. Damren and his partner Miss Gui Ying Li of Marlboro MA, and Debra Damren of Amesbury, MA. Her grandchildren include Elizabeth (Pierce) and her husband Charles Potter of Sidney, Gregory Pierce of Bangor, Andrew Pierce of Scarborough, Kyle Glacken of Seattle, WA, and Lillian Glacken of Austin TX. She is also survived by Liz and Charlie’s children Claire and Eben Potter and Greg’s children Bennett and Rosalie Pierce and their mother Gabi Berube Pierce. She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, a brother-in-law, 3 sisters-in-law, step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, and a step great great granddaughter. The family wishes to thank the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care doctors and staff and the staff at the Glenridge Comfort Care Unit for their great care of Rachel. At her request there will be no funeral. A celebration of her life and an interment at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Belgrade will be held in the spring. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, One Church St., Augusta, where memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family at www.familyfirstfh.com