Virginia’s Obituary Virginia was born February 10, 1918, in Portland, ME and passed peacefully on December 14, 2018, at the South Portland Nursing Home. Her life, a century long, was remarkable for the unforgettable imprint she left on so many lives. As a librarian at Portland Public Library, she was most renowned for her Children’s Story Hours.
Even in her retirement, people with grandchildren of their own, would recognize her from the days in the Children’s Room when they were attending her story hours! She began working at the Library right after graduating from Portland High School and for 44 years was a devoted PPL employee. She retired in June 1980 and went on to have a long, active, and rewarding retirement!
Throughout her working years, Virginia also volunteered at the USO in Portland during WWII. She was a lifelong member of the First Universalist Church of Portland, served on the Board of Directors at Seventy-Five State Street for many years, and entertained as a monologist at various social clubs, churches, and fraternal organizations in Maine. Virginia had a personality and gift of expression that was unparalleled, always with a comedic emphasis.
She knew how to make people laugh. Long Island, ME was her favorite place on earth. The family cottage was there and summers were always spent on the island.
Virginia volunteered at the Long Island VFW Post 9605 where her brother, Lawrence, was a member. She also helped Lawrence during the years he owned The Spar on Long Island and after selling The Spar, she helped Lawrence run an antique business, G & L Antiques, featuring mostly oriental items. She was also a generous donor to the Long Island Historical Society.
In her retirement, she enjoyed reading, going out to eat, knitting, rug hooking, and baking cookies. The cookie jar was always full. She is predeceased by her father William C. Stevens; mother, Caroline H. Stevens; brother, Joseph L. Stevens; sister, Eleanor S. Heald; and brother, Lawrence L. Stevens.
She is survived by her niece, Deborah Heald; nephew, Thomas S. Heald and wife, Theo; four great nieces, Lesa Sproul (Bill), Pamela Merritt (Marc), Jennifer Hawkins (Tim), and Abby Hutchins (Michael) along with several great, great nieces and nephews and two great, great, great nephews! At Virginia’s request, there will be no public service. A private family committal is planned for later this year at Forest City Cemetery, as well as, a small private gathering at the beach on Long Island, ME in the early summer.
Memorial donations may be made to the Long Island Community Library, 7 Gorham Ave. , Long Island, ME 04050. If once you have slept on an island You’ll never be quite the same; You may look as you looked the day before And go by the same old name, You may bustle about in street and shop You may sit at home and sew, But you’ll see blue water and wheeling gulls Wherever your feet may go.
You may chat with the neighbors of this and that And close to your fire keep, But you’ll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell And tides beat through your sleep. Oh! you won’t know why and you can’t say how Such a change upon you came, But once you have slept on an island, You’ll never be quite the same.
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