Ola Hatch

WINDHAM — Ola Margaret Hatch, 96, died on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

The daughter of William and Elvira (Johnson) Buffum, Ola was born on her grandfather’s farm in Belgrade, on her mother’s birthday, Sept. 1, 1920. Ola grew up and lived in Portland for 88 years. She attended Portland schools and was a 1938 graduate of Deering High School.

She moved to Windham in 2008 to be near her children, living there independently through the recent holidays.

Ola was a natural caretaker. She raised five children, and cared for her many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, as well as other individuals in her community, young and old, who later became lifelong family friends. Ola loved flowers, especially carnations, and loved the color purple long before it was fashionable to do so. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword and crypto puzzles, bird watching, taking pictures and beating her loved ones at Spite and Malice. Ola loved music, including Schooner Fare, Danny O’Donnell, and her oldest grandson’s “gigs.”

She was a member of the Cornerstone Chapter #193 Order of the Eastern Star, and the Friendship Club at Marblehead Manor; she always looked forward to the Windham Recreation Senior Trips. She will be remembered as an amazing mom and grandmother, who always put others first, and “always left a penny.”

In addition to her parents, Ola was predeceased by her loving husband of 45 years, Francis T. Hatch; and her siblings, Dorothy Chasse, Billy Buffum, Douglas Buffum and her best friend and cherished sister, Donna Lucas.

She is survived by her children, Judy Bartlett of Las Cruces, N.M., Margaret “Gribbet” Hatch of Windham, Michael Hatch of Brownfield, Janie Schools of Windham and Barbie Young of Casco; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held Friday, Jan. 13, followed by a funeral service at noon, at the Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Road, Windham. Interment will be held in the spring at Evergreen Cemetery, Portland.

To express condolences and to participate in Ola’s online tribute, please visit: www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com

Those wishing to remember Ola may, in lieu of flowers, make gifts in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The American Cancer Society.