Joelyn “Lynn" Cartwright

PORTLAND – Joelyn “Lynn” Cartwright, 82, formerly of Boothbay, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2025, just two days shy of her 83rd birthday. Born on November 10, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, Joelyn was the daughter of the late Norman and Myrtis (Forton) Schreiber.
A faithful woman, Joelyn lived her devotion to God, her Church, and her loved ones. In her younger years, she attended Mass every Sunday at Our Lady Queen of Peace, where she also played the organ. Her prayer life remained strong throughout her life, even when her faith became more private in later years.

Joelyn married the love of her life, Robert Cartwright, on August 10, 1963, in Tennessee. Together they built their life on a foundation of faith, laughter, and love, raising their son, Steven, on Presley Drive in Boothbay. The couple moved to Maine in 1974, where they built their home and began a new chapter surrounded by the beauty of the coast.

Joelyn worked for many years as a lab technician before joining the Boothbay Register, where she enjoyed a long and fulfilling career until her retirement in 2014. Her sharp mind, love of words, and quick wit made her a natural fit for the newspaper world. Perhaps it was this love of language that inspired her to become an avid crossword enthusiast and Scrabble player—though she could never quite convince her husband to trade Monopoly for a game of words.

She had a dry sense of humor and a resilient spirit, even in times of hardship. Through years of health challenges—including several painful hip dislocations—Joelyn’s caregivers often remarked on how she continued to find humor and joy through her suffering. She had a tough exterior, but once you knew her heart, she was a steadfast and loyal friend.

An accomplished swimmer, Joelyn was known for swimming a mile backstroke every day on her lunch break, often leading the leaderboards and earning recognition for her distance. She also had a lifelong love of rabbits and was especially proud of her large collection of glass bunny figurines.

Joelyn was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert, on November 29, 2008, and by her brother, Norman Schreiber III. She is survived by her devoted son, Father Steven Cartwright, who will forever cherish her strength, humor, and love.

Father Cartwright would like to extend his enormous thanks and gratitude to the staff and nursing care at 75 State Street for their exceptional care of my mother over the past 11 years.

A Solemn Requiem Mass for the Repose of Her Soul will be offered by her son, Father Steven Cartwright, on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue, Portland. Interment will be held later at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lewiston.
Arrangements are under the direction of Conroy-Tully Walker Cremation, Funeral, and Gathering Center, 300 Allen Avenue, Portland. To view her memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made 75 State Street, 75 State Street, Attn.: Advancement Office, Portland, Maine 04101