Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Theresa Elaine Hatt (1956-2009)

Theresa (Terri) Elaine Hatt passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2009, holding her mother’s hand and surrounded by friends and staff of Gosnell Memorial Hospice House after her short and courageous battle with cancer.

Terri was born October 30, 1956, the daughter of Carroll D. and Jeanne (Dunham) Hatt of Bangor, Maine and Boynton Beach, Florida. She graduated in 1975 from Bangor High School where she attended Maine Dirigo Girls State. She continued her education at the University of Southern Maine where she pursued a degree in education. Terri’s work life was as diverse as her interests. She held jobs at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, the Freeport school system, Freeport Community Education, L.L. Bean, Casco Bay Homecare, Accomplished Professionals in Portland, and, finally, her dream job as program coordinator for Scarborough Community Services’ Seniors Program.

Terri was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #198 in Orrington. She also volunteered her time for several causes such as Habitat for Humanity, the MS Regatta, Boy Scouts of America, and others, saying: “it felt good to think I was making a difference.” The program she held closest to her heart was Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine where she spent the last several years mentoring her beloved Little Sister. This special person brought much joy to Terri’s life. For the past two years, Terri organized Acappellooza, an evening of acapella music performed by local groups to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine. Terri and her Little Sister emceed the event while Terri’s son Patrick served as stage manager. This year’s event will be held in April in Terri’s honor, and we hope friends and family will join us for this special tribute.

Terri loved the outdoors, especially the coast of Maine. She took every opportunity to take nature walks, drinking in the beauty of Maine. Her favorite spots were Wolf’s Neck Park in Freeport and the family cottage on Holbrook Pond. A great deal of time was spent there this summer canoeing and swimming with her nephews and enjoying family. Terri took pleasure burning branches until the early morning hours, walking the camp roads, and reminiscing about the freedoms of childhood.

Above all Terri loved family and close friends. She deeply loved and respected her two sons, Paul and Patrick. She was their biggest champion during their school years, attending all games and theater/choral productions, acting as Den Leader for Cub Scouts, working as a teacher’s aide in their elementary school, and speaking their praises whenever possible. They were her best accomplishment and she couldn’t have been more proud of both of them. Her sisters were another source of joy. Wendy, Joanna, Aimee and Terri were in constant contact with one another, scheduling “sister weekends” whenever possible. Terri also called her parents every day and was their biggest advocate for addressing the health issues that come with age.

She is predeceased by her grandparents Kenneth and Eleanor Dunham of Winterport; Herbert Hatt, Sr. and Hilma Hatt of Bangor; uncles Raymond Hatt of Idaho Falls, Gordon Hatt of Tennessee, Clement Hatt of Belfast, Herbert Hatt, Jr. of Brewer and Robert Dunham of Winterport; and her beloved cousin Patti Hatt Lincoln of Boise, Idaho.

Besides her parents, she is survived by her sons Paul Kelleher and his partner Ann McCall of Boston, and Patrick Kelleher and his wife Erin of Lisbon Falls, ME; her brother David Hatt of California; sisters Wendy Howard of Lakeland, Florida, Joanna Dalton and her husband Keith of Ludlow, MA, Aimee Hatt Manchester and her husband Peter of St. Augustine, Fl.; her niece Aimee Jo, her fiancé Scott Dionne and her son, Joel of Newburgh, ME; nephews Steven Howard and his wife Alyson, Jason Howard and his wife Jenni all of Bangor, Cooper Dalton and Blake Dalton of Ludlow, MA.; her uncle William Dunham and his wife Evelyn of Winterport; her aunt Carlene of Winterport, ME; and dozens of cousins and untold numbers of great friends, especially Penny Gray, Beverly Wilson, and Diane Dennison.

In recognition of the care Terri received in her final journey, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to staff and volunteers on the Gibson Pavilion at Maine Medical Center and to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House for their warm and superior professional care. There are not enough words to express our gratitude for all that the professionals and volunteers did for Terri and our family over the past several weeks. We will never forget their kindness and they will always be in our heavy hearts.

A celebration of Terri’s life will be held Saturday, January 31 at 1:00 pm at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St., Freeport (just off Route 1). A reception will follow the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine (http://www.somebigs.org/ ).