Marilyn McGaffin

SACO — Marilyn J McGaffin, 83, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2015, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, with her loving family beside her.

She was born in Dexter, on June 21, 1931, the daughter of Donald and Iva Wood Cross.

Marilyn shared stories of her childhood on Moosehead Lake fishing with her grandmother for the guests at Kineo Island. She had fond memories of living her teen years at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., where her father was a faculty member.

She met and married Fred R. Abbott, who suddenly passed in 1955. With two small children, she lived in Dexter, where she met and later married James McGaffin. They moved to Saco in 1956.

She spent 55 years raising her family and tending her Westward Lane home and gardens in the neighborhood she loved. She volunteered as the Sunday school secretary at First Parish Congregational UCC. The family camp on Lake Wassookeag allowed her to return to her roots in Dexter each summer where she created lifelong memories for all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marilyn and her husband Jim spent their retirement years wintering in Jensen Beach, Fla. She became an integral part of the community and especially enjoyed the shuffleboard tournaments with her brother Nelson and his wife Judy. Family gatherings centered around the shared homemade meals that started from her garden. She kept the family connected with daily visits from three generations: son Donald of South Portland; three daughters, Nancy Bolduc of Saco, Susan Graham of Jaffrey, N.H. and Kathleen Martin of Casco; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her brother, Nelson Cross of Port St. Lucie, Fla.

We will all miss the generosity with which she lent her kind ear, deep intellect and uncanny memory.

A family graveside service will be held this summer, where she will be laid to rest with her husband at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter. Dennett, Craig & Pate Saco will be handling the arrangements.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions in her memory, please consider Southern Maine Agency on Aging, specifically Meals on Wheels, 136 US Route 1, #1, Scarborough, ME 04074.