Grace Constance "Connie" Kuusela

Gorham- Grace Constance "Connie" Kuusela. 92, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the Barron Center in Portland, Maine. The daughter of Albert and Grace (Meadows) Skipp, she was born in London, England on October 10, 1924. Grace was educated in London, and spent her teenage years there as well, enduring the Battle of Britain and the hardships of World War II. It was here where she met her future husband, Laurence Elmer Kuusela, at an afternoon tea dance at the Royal Opera House, while Elmer was recuperating from injuries sustained during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, she arrived on the Queen Mary in 1947, and was met by Elmer in New York, and together they travelled to Monson, Maine. They were married on December 27, 1947, and soon moved to Massachusetts to start their life together, and then on to Gorham, Maine. There they raised three children and Grace worked part-time in various office jobs. Her most enjoyable and satisfying position was working for the Town Office in Gorham. Grace became very active in the community joining various clubs and organizations such as PTA, Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Anna Louise Carey Music Club, and her beloved British Overseas Wives Club. Grace and Elmer also enjoyed building and residing summers at their family cottage on Long Lake in Harrison, Maine. During retirement they also enjoyed Dancing, travelling, and spending winters in Florida. Grace was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Laurence Elmer, as well as her sister and husband, Gwendolyn and Gordon Johnston of London England, and her daughter-in-law, Louise Tardie Kuusela of Raymond, Maine. Grace is survived by her daughter Susan Kuusela Wood and her husband Bruce of Casco, her son Larry Kuusela and his wife Elaine of Raymond, and her son Ron and his wife Denise of Gorham, as well as her grandchildren Jaime Wood Gillick, Jonathan Kuusela, Joshua Kuusela, Branden Kuusela, and Derek Kuusela and three great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend their deep appreciation for the compassionate and loving care the staff of the Barron Center and Compassus Hospice gave to Grace during her stay. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Road, Windham, on Saturday May 6, 2017 at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Gorham. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Grace's memory to the Alzheimer's Association in Scarborough, Maine or to the Barron Center, 1145 Brighton Ave, Portland, Maine 04102. AND now, as Grace would say to all of you, "TTFN".

Grace Constance "Connie" Kuusela

October 10, 1924 - February 16, 2017

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