BUXTON & CASCO- Janette A. Shaw, 92, passed away peacefully at her home after a brief illness. She was born in Portland, Maine October 27, 1928, daughter to the late Floyd Putnam of Connecticut and Dorothy McCubrey Tenney of South Portland. Janette grew up in South Portland and attended schools there graduating from South Portland High School. She met her late husband of 53 years her senior year as he returned from serving in the Navy in the South Seas during WWII. They married after graduation and raised their five children in South Portland, West Gorham, and later Standish.
Janette completed CNA training and worked in MMC, the Osteopathic Hospital, the Jewish Home for the Aged, the Visiting Nurses, and private duty cases. She loved animals especially horses, dogs, and cats. As a teenager, Janette rode horses at local stables in South Portland including the T-Ledge and Plantation Stables. She later owned several horses where she and her family lived in West Gorham and Standish. Her great passion in life was for animal welfare and ran her own personal rescue operation. She took in stray cats and dogs, spayed and neutered them at her own expense and then found them good homes. She worked with local veterinarians obtaining discounts on neuter surgeries. While residing in Perry, Maine she wrote articles for the Quoddy Tides Newspaper in Eastport targeting animal abuse and advocating for animal welfare. She also volunteered for Meals for ME in Eastport delivering meals to seniors.
Janette loved attending horse shows and participating in them. She also loved watching horse races and spent much time at local racetracks where her grandfather, Arthur McCubrey, worked as a starter and timer. Janette and her daughter, Diana Chase of Limington, travelled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and spent a week at the Triangle X Guest Ranch in the Grand Teton National Park. Even though wheelchair bound the ranch owners allowed Janette to ride horses every day. While ranch owner, Donald Turner was concerned that Janette wouldn't be able to safely ride due to her handicapped condition he allowed her to ride Curly Sue, a former wild mustang, and declared at the end of the week, "We're going to be talking about your mother for years to come!"
Janette loved baseball and was a loyal Red Sox fan happily watching the Sox capture four World Series wins! She also played girls basketball in high school where her teammates nicknamed her 'Puddy.' Janette had a strong faith in God and loved attending church services and functions and brought up her five children regularly attending services.
Janette is predeceased by her late husband, William C Shaw JR who passed away in 2000 and her daughter, Gail M Shaw in 2003. She is survived by her children---son, William C Shaw III of Casco; son, Martin A Shaw of Windham, Dana L Shaw of Kennebunk; daughter Diana L Chase of Limington; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A Memorial service will be held Saturday May 8th at 2:00 pm at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Rd. (Rt.22), Buxton. Please be mindful of COVID restrictions and mask wearing. Burial will be at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Online condolences can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the ASPCA or local animal shelter.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com