Brenda M. Witherell

Brenda M. Witherell, 64, of South Portland, died on Thursday, June 16, 2017 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. She was born on July 25, 1952 to Arthur and Lorraine (Anderson) Allaire in Sanford, where she grew up and attended local schools, graduating from Sanford High School in 1970. Being involved in many sports, she was a cheerleader, and played basketball, field hockey, in which the achieved the title of All Player. She went on to study at Lynn Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1973. Very soon after, she commenced her career at Goodall Hospital as the Nurse Manager of Critical Care and was there for 23 years. When she left there, she went to work at Maine Medical Center in Portland and retired from there in 2013. Her love of youth sports led her to coaching multiple sport teams for SSYAA in Sanford, and was President of the local Little League. She was a big proponent of sports and especially the ones her son was involved in. Also, Brenda was a Town Selectman for 6 years, and a volunteer for the Waban Telethon for many years.She has lived in the Portland, South Portland area for about 20 years, and married Edwin Witherell in 2004. Her nursing career that spanned 40 years kept her busy though she loved to travel, and enjoyed spending time at their timeshare in Rangeley. In recent years, she taught the CNA program at Maine Medical Center. She was also an excellent cook and loved children, and encouraging them and their families, through their involvement in sports.She is predeceased by her father, and her brother Arthur Allaire Jr.Survivors include her husband Edwin Witherell, a son Steven Gouin and his love interest Kristin Johnson, step grandson, Sunny Johnson, and soon to be granddaughter Emma Gouin, her mother Lorraine Allaire, a brother, Steven Allaire, her former husband Michael Gouin, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.The family would like to thank the staff at the New England Cancer Care Center, Dr. Chiara Batelli, and FNP Dixie Knoll, for the extraordinary care of Brenda.Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation on Thursday, June 22, 2017, from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. with a memorial service at 6:00 P.M., at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St. Springvale.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Maine at P.O. Box 602, Brewer, ME 04402, or online at www5.komen.org/Donate/Donate.htmlArrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence please click condolence tab at left.