Marie Anna Cardamone, age 89, died peacefully on March 8, 2014 following several years' long struggle with dementia. In the days leading up to her death, Marie - known to her late husband as "Maryann"; to her 5 children as "Mum"; to her 9 grandchildren as "Gram"; and to her nieces and nephews as "Zizi Maryann" - was surrounded by friends and family who expressed gratitude for having had her in their lives for so long. Maryann, along with siblings Raymond Melanson and Adrienne Teague, were born in Westbrook, Maine to mother Marie Anna and father Peter J. Melanson. Following her mother's death in 1925, she was raised by her father and maternal grandmother Celia LeKernec of Prince Edward Island. She attended the school at Saint Hyacinth's Church in Westbrook with lifelong best friend, Marcella (LaBrecque) Richio. In Maryann's 9th grade year, she left school to begin work at the Dana Warp Cotton Mill. Having been injured critically in an elevator accident, her father could no longer work and so she left school to help support the family. It was through Marcella that Maryann met her husband of 64 years, Michael Archangelo Cardamone, of Portland. They married in October 1946 at Saint Hyacinth's Church and lived with Michael's family in the Italian neighborhood of Munjoy Hill. Maryann, who was fluent in both French and English, learned Italian and Portuguese to hold her own as a small-but-mighty French woman in a multi-generational Italian family. In addition to the language, she learned the culinary traditions of her husband's Calabrian family. Her Sunday dinners would become legendary among family and friends, and her home, infused with garlic. Maryann and Michael had 6 children together. Their youngest son, Peter James Cardamone was born with a birth defect and tragically died at the age of 18. For his entire life, Maryann was a devoted and tenacious advocate for Peter. She was an active member of the March of Dimes, an organization she cared deeply for, until late in her life. Having suffered Peter's untimely death, Maryann felt blessed by the arrival of her first grandchildren, Joshua Haddock of Roanoke, VA and Anthony Cardamone of Saco, ME. More grandchildren followed: Malia Haddock of Portland, ME, Nicole Hall of Windham, ME, Dominic and Alex Cardamone of South Portland, ME, Gina Cardamone of Old Orchard Beach, ME, Andy Cardamone of Cambridge, MA, Elizabeth Ahern of Bangor, ME, and one great grandchild, Michael Hall, born to Nicole in March 2012. Together, Maryann and Michael were loving and generous grandparents. Maryann in particular did everything she could to support her family; she was the quintessential mother. Grandchildren spent weekends, holidays, even sick-days at her home. She made everyone feel better with her special chicken noodle soup, cups of hot tea, sweet children's songs sung in French, and her contagious laugh. Sharp-witted with a dry sense of humor, she had a heart big enough to love everyone who came into her fold. Maryann is survived by her children: Louise Haddock of South Freeport, Michael Cardamone of Saco, Frank Cardamone of Saco, and Marie Ahern of Scarborough; All her grandchildren; Her beloved nieces and nephews, Joseph and Betty Peck of Cornish, Donna Keits of South Portland, and cousin, Francis Viola of Sao Paulo, Brazil; And her dearest friend, Marcella Richio of Westbrook. Maryann will be remembered as a kind and nurturing woman, hard working and resilient, and selfless, always putting the needs of others ahead of her own. Those who loved her knew that she carried the worries of the world on her shoulders. But it was her inner strength and spirit that saw her through. The family would like to thank the staff at the South Porltand Nursing for the excellent care they provided to Maryann and also to the 4th Floor Pallative Care team at Mercy Hospital that helped make her passing easier for both her and her family, they provided the family a great amount of strength. Visiting hours will be held from 9 to 11 AM Thursday at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral mass celebrating Maryann's life will follow at 11:30 AM at Saint Anthony's Church in Westbrook.  A reception to follow will be announced at church. On line condolences may be expressed at blaisandhayfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to: The Alzheimer's Association, National Office, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or the March of Dimes or the Maine Special Olympics.