Betty Jean Scarponi, age 88, died Thursday, October 15th.
Born July 7, 1932 to Carroll McFadden and Mary Chase. She has one brother, Michael McFadden. She grew
up in Lewiston on Fairlawn Avenue. Betty was president of her high school class. She successfully attended Registered Nurse School at Central Maine Medical Center. She was president of her
nursing school class. During nursing school, she met and married David Roger
Scarponi who was stationed at the Brunswick Naval Air Station around 1952. They
were married in October of 1953 for over 50 years, until his death in May of
2010.Together they have 3 children—Kent, Kurt and Kitt. Betty had
a total of 6 grandchildren: Kira and Kayla (Kurt's) Keaton and Kory (Kent's) and
Konnor and Kassidy (Kitt's).
She and
David started their family in a small trailer park in Lewiston. David was in
the Navy and worked on the P-3 aircraft as a structural engineer. They soon
moved to Brunswick when they purchased the 10 site Linnhaven Trailer Park. They
grew a family and a business together for the next 60 years. They both liked to
travel with each other. They both worked together to win David’s election as
the first chairman of The Brunswick town council, where he served the town for
13 years.
She devoted
her life to her children and grandchildren. They each have names starting with
a K. She was the "Go To” person for the each Scarponi. She never said no to any
of us and always put each of us first.
She was very
devoted to Jesus, god, and the holy spirit. She attended many churches and
groups in search of the perfect situation for her. She studied the bible for
many years. She even had what we all called a bible room where she prayed, and
all her research material was kept. She would have many people call her and they
would always ask her questions about god and asked her to pray for them. She
enjoyed singing in the choir for many years.
She had a
unique and strong calmness and confidence that was contagious. She used to
regularly cook us all lunch and dinner while we were working at the business.
She felt it was important to help keep us all healthy and a family.
She loved to
learn and enjoyed reading. She especially loved to travel with her friends on
several different trips all over the world.
In 2010 her
husband suddenly lost his life to pancreatitis. Soon after, the family started
to notice signs of forgetfulness and struggling with many of the challenges she
used to conquer with ease. Eventually around 2013 she was diagnosed with
dementia.
Over the
next several years she fought the disease every day. She loved being with her
family. She loved her home. She was able to stay in her up until the last year
of her fight. She was dedicated to the business and our many residents. Even
near the end she would try to answer the phone and help. She kept track of all
the calls on our answering machine and always wanted to know that each one was
taken care of. If someone called and left a voice mail on the answering
machine, she would hear it and would not let it go until Kurt or I said they
were all set.
We are all
sad and devastated to see her leave us, but we are all happy she is going where
she always wanted to go, and her suffering is over. She would always say to me,
"I’m not afraid to die when the time comes, heaven is a beautiful place filled
with joy and happiness”
Although she
has gone to a better place, she leaves behind parts of herself in each of us.
She lives every day in each of us. She gave each of us unique strengths and
meanings.
A private
service will be held. Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal
Street, Brunswick where memorial condolences may be expressed at
stetsonsfuneralhome.com