Mary Alice (Jordan) Wright Witham Germane

PORTLAND - Mary Alice (Jordan) Wright, Witham, Germane, 103 years, died on December 5, 2013, at the Barron Center in Portland, ME. The daughter of Joseph F. and Mary Theresa (Broderick) Jordan, Mary was born on June 17, 1910, in Jamaica Plain, MA., the oldest of six children. At the age of 3, the family moved to Portland, ME, where she has resided ever since. Mary was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parish and attended the parochial school system. June 17, 1928, on her 18th birthday, Mary graduated from Cathedral High School, in Portland, as Valedictorian of her class. She was awarded a gold medal for that honor, which she has worn proudly her entire life. Her secretarial career began at Lee Higgins Investment Co., then continuing on as a receptionist at New System Laundry, where she met and later married Joseph E. Wright. Her secretarial career continued in the office of C. Samuel Seavey, Insurance Co. She became widowed in 1942, being left with three children, going back into the working field, Mary was the first employee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the State of Maine (then known as Associated Hospital Services of Maine) She married a second time to Alvah Laurence Witham, and with the addition of 4 sons, became a "stay at home" mother. In 1951, she became widowed for a second time and returned to the working world once more to support her seven children, continuing her secretarial career in the office of Portland Attorney Udell Bramson. In 1973, Mary married for a third time, to Portland Police Officer, Guelfo "Ralph" Germane, whom she met in 1952. Not only was Mary the first female Deputy Sheriff at the Cumberland County, serving in the CC jail on Federal St. where she retained that position for seven years until when in 1980, she was transferred to the Superior Court becoming the "first female" jury officer, in Cumberland County, serving in that position for five years, retiring in 1985, at age 75. Mary also became widowed once again, in 1980. During her lifetime with Ralph, they traveled extensively to, among other places, India, Egypt, Israel, Paris, Rome, Venice, Portugal, Spain, as well as the United States, Canada and Cuba. In her "retirement", Mary continued on as a temporary receptionist for the Attorney's Trust organization on the sixth floor of the Masonic Building. Mary's last "travel trip" was at age 95, with her daughter, Gwen and companion, Richard A. Davis, when they took Mary on a cruise to Alaska. Mary's life experiences shaped her into one amazing woman. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by 4 brothers, Robert T., Joseph F., James J., Edward A. Jordan, one sister Margaret M. (Jordan) Martin and her dear son, Bradley R. Witham. She is survived by four sons, Walter S. Wright and his wife Beverly, of Rindge, NH, Bruce E. Witham, of Canton, Ohio, Brian L. Witham his wife Nancy, of South Portland, ME, and Barry R. Witham and his companion, Rebecca MacLean, of Saco, ME and two daughters, Marlene A. (Wright) her husband, Charles G. LaRose, of South Portland, ME and Gwendolyn E. (Wright) Ricci, of Portland, ME. and her dear friend and companion, Richard A. Davis of Cape Elizabeth, ME. Mary's life was blessed with 74 descendants, 7 children, 23 grandchildren 34 great grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren. She lived in Portland, with her daughter Gwen, for five years before being hospitalized with pneumonia and subsequently becoming a permanent resident at the Barron Center in January, 2010, where she has been lovingly and compassionately cared for by the Barron Center caregivers, living to become the oldest resident in the facility at the time of her death. Gwen, together with her siblings would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff and caregivers for their excellent care to Mary. Special thank you to Debbie, Doris, Jackie, Linda and Allyson for their individual loving care and attention to Mary. Visiting hours will be held from 4-6 PM, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, at Conroy-Tully Crawford, Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, Maine Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland, ME. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent in Mary's memory to Barron Center, Recreation Activities, 1145 Brighton Avenue, Portland, ME 04102. (To be earmarked for the benefit of ALL Barron Center residents.)Online condolences may be expressed below.