Paula Page

Paula Page Jan. 30, 1937 – Oct. 18, 2023 Paula Page (previously Paula McCarter Collins) passed away on October 18, 2023, at age 86. She was born in Neptune, New Jersey to George W. C. and Paulina McCarter. She grew up in Rumson, New Jersey and Weston Massachusetts. Her great grandfather, Thomas Nesbitt McCarter, founded McCarter and English, one of New Jersey’s oldest and most prestigious law firms. Her grandfather, Robert H. McCarter, and his brother, Thomas N. McCarter, also both served as the Attorney General of New Jersey and her father was a partner at the firm. Paula studied at Bard College, Bennington College and Boston University. She met her first husband, John Ireland Collins, an artist, while visiting friends in Maine. They lived in New York and later in Cushing, Maine, had two children, and were married for 23 years. Early on she did social work and worked as a receptionist at the hospital, but the work she loved was the many, many years she worked as a medical secretary for her wonderful friend Dr. Robert Lawrence in Rockport. After John died, now single and independent, she taught herself to run her own boat while designing, and building with her son, her beautiful house on Pleasant Point Harbor in Cushing. She loved being on the water, designing the house so there were water views from every room. She always had colorful style and flair, one of her first cars was a white Jaguar convertible with red leather interior, and that colorful style and flair carried on in her home. She filled it with all the books, music, and funky treasures that she collected over the years that made her house so cozy, warm and comfortable. Then along came Bill Page. She married William C. (Bill) Page, a wooden boat builder and yacht broker with whom she just celebrated their 27th Anniversary. The card she gave to Bill just a few days ago said; “B’Willie darling - The past 27 years have been the happiest of my life.💚 Thank you for every minute of our time together” Some of her fondest memories were the great adventures they had cruising the coasts of British Columbia and, more recently, the coasts of Maine and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland aboard Serianna, modeled after the Pacific NW salmon trollers based on a Bill Garden design and built by Bill, Todd French and Eli Ellis. She loved spending time with her family and friends and was devoted to her family. She adored her children and was their biggest supporter and cheerleader. Paula, Paulina and John (Nur) were best of friends and in constant contact all throughout her life having so much fun together, making even mundane tasks enjoyable when together. She was passionate about art, books, and opera (so much so she once shattered a crystal candle holder because she was listening to the opera so loud, sorry neighbors!). Most recently, she turned her beautiful, cozy home over to her children, and worked side by side with them in remodeling it for renting to allow the house to stay in the family. She left most of her cool, unique and funky belongings so the house has kept her colorful and cozy charm. She said she felt her home “came alive again”, while closing one chapter and opening another. In her own words, she had a “full, joyful, active life.” Words cannot express how much she will be missed by her family and friends but we are all grateful for the time we had with her. She knew this day was approaching, and, as a lifelong avid reader and writer, she referred to this day as “the end of my long, loving, joyful autobiography.” So beautifully written. A Celebration of Life will take place in the spring or early summer at her home in Cushing when the boats are back in the water. Her wishes are that her ashes be scattered in the harbor so she can continue to watch over her family. In lieu of flowers, if you have a buoy, a rock, or something fun or funky that you think looks like something she would have inside or outside of her cozy home, her family would love to add it to the unique charm of her house. Paula was predeceased by her first husband John; her brothers Francis E. P. McCarter and Robert H. McCarter and her nephews Frank and Brian McCarter. She is survived by her husband Bill; daughter Paulina McCarter Collins; son Nur John Collins and wife Karen; grandsons Sam and Alex Collins; stepson Tom Page and his children Simon and Louisa Page; stepson George Page; stepdaughter Samantha Gorman and husband Mike and their children Brianna, Raelle and Ty Gorman; and many other nephews and nieces and their families. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of Portland.