Obituary for Therese Mary McLaughlin (Cummings)
BREWER - Therese Mary Cummings McLaughlin died on Wednesday night, Feb. 9, 2022, at her Brewer residence, and joined her beloved Harold. Therese was born on Sept. 12, 1929, to Harry and Frances McAvoy Cummings in Benedicta, Maine, and always relished being a farmer's daughter. From her parents, she learned a strong sense of family values, work ethic, and love of God and passed these traits on to her children with tireless devotion.
Therese graduated from St. Benedicta High School and then the Madigan Memorial School of Nursing in Houlton. She worked as an R.N. in Caribou, Houlton, Hartford, Conn., and Millinocket. During the 1960s, she became known as the neighborhood nurse and enjoyed being helpful to neighbors and friends.
While a student nurse she met Harold Joseph McLaughlin at the 1950 St. Patrick's Dance at Fitzy's in Houlton, where they danced to 'My Wild Irish Rose' for the first of many times. They wed on June 29, 1953, and became parents to four wonderful children, Don, John, Joe, and Frances, who all became the heart of her life at their Millinocket home. Therese and Harold shared a life's journey for 54 years that produced unbreakable bonds of love and respect. For many years, Therese was active in school and church events. She was a communicant of St. Martin of Tours in Millinocket and later St. Joseph's in Brewer. She was a lifelong devoted Catholic.
Therese is survived by her dearly loved children: sons, Don and wife, Rebecca McLaughlin, of Verona Island, John and wife, Glynn McLaughlin, of San Diego, Joe and wife, Kathy Schwigan McLaughlin, of Orrington, and daughter, Francie Butler and friend, Steve Ropiak, of Brewer. Grandchildren were the joy and light of her Therese's life and "Nana" was her proudest title. It grieved her so to leave them and Nana will be greatly missed by Dave and Will McLaughlin, Kevin and Erin McLaughin, Ryan and wife, Alissa, Matthew and namesake, Therese "Tess" McLaughlin, and Daniel and Katie Butler; as well as granddaughter-in-law, Amber.
Nana and Papa diligently followed all their grandchildren's sporting and school events, plays, proms, and dance recitals, and all Special Olympics events involving wonderful Daniel, who had his own special brand of magic for Therese. She celebrated countless birthdays with them and was nearby for all of their births, including those of Daniel and Katie in the Netherlands. Therese is also survived by great-grandchildren, Emma, Brooke, and Clara McLaughlin, Brayden and Zoey McLaughlin, and Liam McLaughlin, who all brought added joy and a perpetual smile to her life. Over the last couple of years, she received uplifting visits from them and her heart was warmed by all, including special Sunday morning visits from her youngest, 5-year-old, Liam.
Therese is also survived by loving sister and dear brother-in-law, Christine and Wendall McNally of Brewer, as well as cherished brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Arthur Dentremont of Brunswick, John Saunders of West Enfield, Conn., and Patricia Koepp of San Diego.
Other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom brought more pride and happiness into Therese's life. They include godchildren, Mary-Lou Franck of Levant, and Marianne Purda of Yarmouth. Besides her beloved husband, Therese was predeceased by dear sister, Jeanne Dentremont; and brother, Joseph Cummings; and many relatives and friends.
Therese became an ardent Boston Red Sox fan and happily witnessed them winning four World Series titles. In Millinocket, she treasured the times spent with many friends, especially Loren and Evelyn Brown, with whom Harold and Therese traveled together to Florida, Washington, D.C., Great Lakes, Ill., Montreal and 35 pilgrimages to the Shrine of St. Anne De Beaupre, Quebec.
Therese resided at the Ellen Leach Memorial Home in Brewer since May 2010 and enjoyed becoming acquainted with residents in nearby apartments. During those years she continued her tradition of making many birthday cakes, angel pie and her specialty, graham cracker pie.
Gifts in memory of Therese may be sent to Camp Capella, P.O. Box 552, Holden, ME 04429. The family would like to sincerely thank the aides of Saint Joseph Homecare and Hospice as well as Silver Linings and new friend, Judith Brown, for the comfort and care they helped provide over the past several months. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, March 7, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brewer, followed by a lunch at Season's Restaurant in Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at lamsonfh.com
Therese graduated from St. Benedicta High School and then the Madigan Memorial School of Nursing in Houlton. She worked as an R.N. in Caribou, Houlton, Hartford, Conn., and Millinocket. During the 1960s, she became known as the neighborhood nurse and enjoyed being helpful to neighbors and friends.
While a student nurse she met Harold Joseph McLaughlin at the 1950 St. Patrick's Dance at Fitzy's in Houlton, where they danced to 'My Wild Irish Rose' for the first of many times. They wed on June 29, 1953, and became parents to four wonderful children, Don, John, Joe, and Frances, who all became the heart of her life at their Millinocket home. Therese and Harold shared a life's journey for 54 years that produced unbreakable bonds of love and respect. For many years, Therese was active in school and church events. She was a communicant of St. Martin of Tours in Millinocket and later St. Joseph's in Brewer. She was a lifelong devoted Catholic.
Therese is survived by her dearly loved children: sons, Don and wife, Rebecca McLaughlin, of Verona Island, John and wife, Glynn McLaughlin, of San Diego, Joe and wife, Kathy Schwigan McLaughlin, of Orrington, and daughter, Francie Butler and friend, Steve Ropiak, of Brewer. Grandchildren were the joy and light of her Therese's life and "Nana" was her proudest title. It grieved her so to leave them and Nana will be greatly missed by Dave and Will McLaughlin, Kevin and Erin McLaughin, Ryan and wife, Alissa, Matthew and namesake, Therese "Tess" McLaughlin, and Daniel and Katie Butler; as well as granddaughter-in-law, Amber.
Nana and Papa diligently followed all their grandchildren's sporting and school events, plays, proms, and dance recitals, and all Special Olympics events involving wonderful Daniel, who had his own special brand of magic for Therese. She celebrated countless birthdays with them and was nearby for all of their births, including those of Daniel and Katie in the Netherlands. Therese is also survived by great-grandchildren, Emma, Brooke, and Clara McLaughlin, Brayden and Zoey McLaughlin, and Liam McLaughlin, who all brought added joy and a perpetual smile to her life. Over the last couple of years, she received uplifting visits from them and her heart was warmed by all, including special Sunday morning visits from her youngest, 5-year-old, Liam.
Therese is also survived by loving sister and dear brother-in-law, Christine and Wendall McNally of Brewer, as well as cherished brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Arthur Dentremont of Brunswick, John Saunders of West Enfield, Conn., and Patricia Koepp of San Diego.
Other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom brought more pride and happiness into Therese's life. They include godchildren, Mary-Lou Franck of Levant, and Marianne Purda of Yarmouth. Besides her beloved husband, Therese was predeceased by dear sister, Jeanne Dentremont; and brother, Joseph Cummings; and many relatives and friends.
Therese became an ardent Boston Red Sox fan and happily witnessed them winning four World Series titles. In Millinocket, she treasured the times spent with many friends, especially Loren and Evelyn Brown, with whom Harold and Therese traveled together to Florida, Washington, D.C., Great Lakes, Ill., Montreal and 35 pilgrimages to the Shrine of St. Anne De Beaupre, Quebec.
Therese resided at the Ellen Leach Memorial Home in Brewer since May 2010 and enjoyed becoming acquainted with residents in nearby apartments. During those years she continued her tradition of making many birthday cakes, angel pie and her specialty, graham cracker pie.
Gifts in memory of Therese may be sent to Camp Capella, P.O. Box 552, Holden, ME 04429. The family would like to sincerely thank the aides of Saint Joseph Homecare and Hospice as well as Silver Linings and new friend, Judith Brown, for the comfort and care they helped provide over the past several months. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, March 7, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brewer, followed by a lunch at Season's Restaurant in Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at lamsonfh.com