Mary Elizabeth Kuebler

Mary Elizabeth Kuebler, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to many passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024, in Portland, Maine. She was 93. Born in Cardiff, Wales on May 11, 1931, Mary was the youngest and the last surviving of six children to her parents, the late John and Catherine (Carew) Dee. Mary spent her childhood in Cardiff where she attended the St. Joseph Convent School and then began her lifelong career in education in the early 1950s. At the age of 24, she followed two of her sisters to the U.S., arriving in the Summer of 1955 on the Queen Mary. She settled in Pennsylvania where she taught elementary school at Chestnut Hill Academy in the early 1960s and received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Temple University in 1967. Mary proudly became a U.S. citizen on December 4, 1968. In 1970, she moved with her family to Portland, Maine, where she lovingly raised her two daughters. Mary went on to obtain her Master of Science in Education from the University of Maine in 1982. She built a lasting career of 27 years as an educator in the Scarborough school system until her retirement in June 2000. After retirement, she continued her love for teaching as a substitute teacher. Her grandchildren would often come home from school and proudly proclaim that they had “Nana” as their substitute. She was active in her community, volunteering at a food pantry and as a Portland Museum of Art docent. For several years, Mary ran a Bed and Breakfast known as “The Celtic Cottage”, where she enjoyed meeting and hosting guests from all over the world. Mary was known for her zest for life. She enjoyed playing tennis, reading, going to the theater, movies, opera, and spending time outdoors. Most of all she loved to travel, and she cherished her trips back to the United Kingdom. Social and well-loved, she was surrounded by a wide circle of friends. Her role as a mother brought her immeasurable joy, and her love extended warmly to her five grandchildren. Surviving are her daughters, Elizabeth and her husband James Freeman, and Jennifer Kuebler, along with their father Carl Kuebler. She was a devoted and loving “Nana” to Owen, Brady, and Gwendolyn Freeman, and Griffin and Callie Watson. Mary’s legacy extends to her cherished nieces, nephews, and many friends who were like family. The family wishes to thank the staff on the third floor of the Sam L. Cohen Building at The Cedars for the compassionate and attentive care given to Mary in her final year. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Friday, November 22 at 10:30am at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Rd, Falmouth.