Kathleen Werner

Kathleen M. Werner, 94, died peacefully at her home in the company of her son, Bobby, on November 25, 2014. A resident of Portland and Long Island in Casco Bay, she was Grammy Kay to everyone who knew her. Kay was born October 30, 1920 in the Sand Hill neighborhood of Augusta, Maine. The eldest child of George A. and Marie Ange (Doyon) Slattery, there followed siblings Patrick, Jane, Theresa and Maggie. In 1933 the family moved to 55 Payson Street in Portland when Maggie was taken gravely ill with sarcoma and died a year later. As the new kid at Sacred Heart Grammar School, Kay loved to make everyone laugh and was advised by a nun that she should be on stage. A 1935 graduate of Sacred Heart, she remained life-long friends with her classmate Catherine (Keegan) Kroyak. While at Deering High School, Kay worked after school for Dr Edward Greco, Sr. in his office and as babysitter for his children. After graduation in 1939 she landed a coveted job in the telephone company until she met and married her better half Albert Vincent Vinnie Werner in January 1943, while Vinnie was home on leave from the Navy. As a young mother Kay made time to perform in several shows at Sacred Heart parish, one of which, a memorable skit with Father Nelligan, brought the house down. Kays heart always belonged to Long Island, the place where she brought her two children in 1947, renting a cottage on Cushing Street for the summer for 125 dollars! Fowlers beach was the gathering place for families. When Kay finished cleaning coils in the oil stove or finished painting something, she would join moms at the beach, exchange recipes, and watch the kids who emerged from the frigid water only to grab a lunch of ZaRex and saltine crackers filled with peanut butter and jelly. In 1957 she and Vinnie bought Westover, her beloved cottage by the ocean where she could putter and watch the sun set over the distant White Mountains. Her husband, a commercial fisherman working the Grand Banks, was away most of each month, so Kays natural independence and innate capacity to make people laugh flourished on an island with a built-in audience. With the addition of four more children, the cottage was overrun with family, visitors, kids, friends of friends and pets. The more commotion, the more Kay liked it, cooking, baking and entertaining her way into the hearts of several generations of family and islanders. She especially enjoyed hosting the Beachcombers - a group of island ladies who met monthly at each others homes for lunch, stories and spirits. Kay learned to drive in her 50s, and the couple bought their first ever automobile. With her children grown, Kay went back to work at the University of Maine Gorham campus in the cafeteria doing what came naturally, feeding people and usually slipping them extra portions! She later transferred to the USM Portland campus until she retired. It was during this time that Kays friend, Ginny Arsenault, convinced her to fly to Nassau for a weeks vacation. Vinnie, always frugal, handed Kay a twenty dollar bill and told her to bring back the change! When her beloved Vinnie died in 1996, Kay started going to the island as early as April and could be found sitting outside on her porch knitting or making afghans and getting fresh air. She would always wave to her family lobstermen - Skip, Willie, Thom, Obie, Marshall, Evans, Jed and Scott, as each came close to shore to signal hello. Then along might come greetings from Randy Wood or Stevie Johnson in his Tiki boat. Grammy Kay was an iconic fixture on Long Island for 67 years. As her generation of friends passed away she embraced their children. And when the children grew up, she embraced their children. Exceedingly generous, she enjoyed giving people things. There are hundreds of individuals who received a pair of her waffle style knitted mittens, even a visitor from Guatemala! Or you might get a Swedish Weave afghan, a plate of chocolate chip bars, or lemon squares, ginger cookies, a cake, blueberry muffins - or maybe a piece of furniture! No one ever departed without something to take home. With friends and family in and out of the cottage each day, Kay cooked constantly, making sure there was always something tasty to enjoy. Happily, Kay taught granddaughter Marnee and then great granddaughter Lauren how to cook. Kay loved to shake her timbers at island cabarets and at the Spar. When Long Island started having a 4th of July parade, Kay rode in it on her moped decorated in a fishnet bodysuit. Another year, she was selected Grand Marshall of the parade, and in 2000 was voted Ms Town of Long Island. At 76 she traded the moped for a golf cart and continued to be a feature in parades as a Patriots cheerleader, hula girl and as Marilyn Monroe - with balls of yarn in all the right places. Along with her great granddaughter Lauren, as Island Mermaids, Kay won the Best in Parade trophy in 2007 at the age of 87. The islanders always gave back. Kay was given an 80th birthday party hosted by neighbor and friend Sandy Martig. In August 2010, for her 90th birthday, Kays family threw her a party at the islands VFW hall, featuring the local band 43@ 70@. The hall was filled to capacity with well-wishers of all ages including babies and even pets. Kay danced most of the evening. Kay was surrounded by people who loved her and she delighted in their love and attention which surely contributed to her long and happy life. She was always busy, running a three-meals-a-day home, working late at night sewing clothes, comforters, baby quilts and especially prom dresses for her daughters. The cottage was filled with sea glass creations, needle work and art - all projects designed to keep kids busy. Her home in-town was always warm and cozy, a place of respite to spend the day visiting with siblings, family members and friends; usually talking about fishing and lobstering while Kay cooked another one of her fabulous meals. Her beloved grandson Evans, who lost his struggle with Hodgkins lymphoma in 2004, stayed with his Gram to experience the diversions offered by Kays daily drop-ins. To get some air Kay liked to rake leaves and shovel snow and continued to do so until she was 91. As she took life to a slower pace, she had several backyard squirrels at her home in Portland she fed so regularly they grew to the size of cats. Her young neighbor Miles would come by for a chat and leave with a pocketfull of his and Kays favorite Werthers candies. She especially enjoyed sitting on her back porch watching her son Bobby mow the lawn many times to get rid of fallen leaves, pointing out any leaves he may have overlooked. Recently, Kay celebrated her 94th birthday and, as always, revelled in the interaction between herself and her wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren, for she always loved children. Her home was filled with family of all ages who came to spend the day with this remarkable woman who was truly one of a kind. Heartfelt appreciation to family caregivers Margaret, Skip, Christine, Bobby and wife Lynda, granddaughter Marnee and great-granddaughter Lauren, whose attentions allowed Kay to enjoy her final years on Long Island and in her own home. Special thanks to Kays handyman Rich Lane and to her son JP who painted and repaired her homes. She was always pleased her son Paul shipped out with Military Sealift Command where he is currently at sea. She was grateful to Scott Wood for his many years of work on the cottage, and always got a kick out of the cards Scotts brother Randy, aka Blackbeard, sent her. Thanks to Sarah Teague for always keeping in touch and to Lorinda, her go-to gal, and to the gang at Skees Chevrolet! Survivors are children LtCol (USAF retired) Margaret Jealous Lane (Rich) of Apollo Beach, FL; Albert Skip Werner (Lisa), of Limington; Christine Spear (Willis) of Cousins Island; John Peter JP Werner (Cleo) of New Gloucester; Robert Bobby Werner (Lynda) of Portland; and Paul Werner (Debbie) of Sebastian, FL. Also, long-time family friend and third daughter, Ginny Ells Golden. Grandchildren are Marnee Long (Mike) and daughter Lauren; Dr (Pastor) Aaron Werner (Kathy) and daughters Kayla, Kristen, Hannah, and Hope; Ryan Werner (Teri), son Benjamin and daughter Macey; Lindsay Werner; Thom Werner (Katie), daughter Delaney and son Thomas Coleman; Sadie Werner and son Myles; Willis Obie Spear III and girlfriend Amanda Porter; Marshall Spear (Rebecca) and sons Jack and Calvin; Jed Spear and girlfriend Kasia Pawluskiewicz; Emily Werner; Scott Werner and fiancee Mariah Nelson; and Adele Werner. Esteemed nieces are Colleen Thomas (Jeff); Patrice Slattery (the family genealogist), daughter Katie and son Nathaniel; Ann Slattery; Karen Barter (Rick) and sons Patrick and Joe. Also, Kays sister-in-law Marjorie Werner and her daughter Ann Palmer. Visitation will be at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, Maine on Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 12 noon to 2 pm, immediately followed by a remembrance service at which time admirers with a special story or a funny incident involving Kay are invited to speak. Online condolences can be made at www.ctcrawford.com. In lieu of flowers a contribution in Kays name can be made to any of the following: Long Island Fire and Rescue, Long Island, ME 04050; Changing Tide, 772 Island Avenue, Long Island, ME 04050; Long Island Community Center Revitalization Project (LICCRP), c/o Alanna Rich, 54 Winterview Lane, Long Island, ME 04050.