LIMERICK- Nina Mary (Curry) Stitson passed away on September 24, 2020 after a period of declining health. She was born in Portland, Maine on August 14, 1928, the daughter of the late Eden and Mary (Ruddy) Curry. Nina was three years old when her family bought a farm and moved to Limerick. She had many stories of growing up on the farm, helping with all the chores and living with the many foster children in her parents’ care. One story in particular she loved to tell was that every summer, her mother would take them all blueberry picking and they would have to fill a bucket (according to her the bucket was very big and the wild blueberries were very small!) then her mother would take them to Old Orchard Beach for the day!
After graduating from Limerick High School, she attended Gorham State Teachers’ College, now USM. She graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She went on to get her Master’s Degree in 1984.
Nina met her future husband, Bill Stitson, on a dance floor in Newfield, Maine. They were married on March 16, 1951. Bill was in the Navy at the time and she was teaching in Falmouth. They spent the next several years living in Virginia and Florida, where Bill was stationed.
When Bill was discharged from the Navy, they bought a chicken farm in Cornish and Nina stayed home taking care of chickens and children! Sadly, the farm burned in 1958; which resulted in their moving to Limerick, Nina started teaching at her old childhood school where she stayed for 29 years. Even today, former students will say that she was an important teacher in their lives, a true role model who made a difference. Even students who may have been a little bit naughty- she was a force to be reckoned with. Upon hearing of her passing, a relative stated “She is busy organizing all the Angels”!
After she retired, Bill was still working, so she worked part time at USM supervising Student Teachers. A job she very much enjoyed. Once Bill retired, they began many years of travelling and camping around the United States and Canada. She shared many stories of their travels, both in person and through travel journals that she kept. This was a time in their lives that they thoroughly enjoyed.
Nina was a true matriarch of the family. She loved planning parties, get togethers, family dinners and Holiday festivities. She definitely could be the life of the party.
She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and made every one of them feel very special. She enjoyed many different craft activities and enjoyed doing them with her grandchildren. In later years, she would often show up at one of her children’s or grandchildren’s homes to “fold laundry” but really, to share stories and visit
while she helped.
She was very active in town politics, and many civic groups in Limerick. She was a life-long, dedicated member of the Free Baptist Church.
She was predeceased by her brother, Arnold Curry and her husband Bill Stitson, who passed away in June. Nina is survived by her children, Mary Jo Burcham and husband Lloyd of Limerick, Cindy Taylor and husband Brad of Albion, Herbert W. Stitson,Jr. and wife Debra of Limerick; her grandchildren, Nicole Soucy and husband Michael, Jessica Carll and husband Nate, Andrew Burcham and Fiancé Leighana Lynch, H. William (Bill) Stitson III and wife Kate, Tim Stitson, Elijah Stitson, Allen Facinelli and wife Chanel, Dean Taylor, Matt Taylor and Chris Taylor; her great grandchildren, Ian Burcham, Mason and Michaela Soucy, Aiden, Aryanna and Finnegan Carll, Avalei and Declan Facinelli.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. Andres’ Health Care Facility in Biddeford, ME for their kind care of Nina.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:00 AM at the Highland Cemetery Annex in Limerick, ME. The family requests that you adhere to State guidelines and social distancing practices. Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home of Cornish is handling all details. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Free Baptist Church of Limerick, PO Box 370, 2 Sokokis Trail North, Limerick, ME 04048.