Pace, Florida — Wildreth C. Burnell, 77, formerly of North Sebago, died on June 24, 2011.

She was born in Portland, Maine at Maine General Hospital, on Aug. 28, 1933, the daughter of Edwin and Velma Wormwood. She attended local schools in Sebago but did not graduate due to family needs and work. She later earned her G.E.D. at Lake Region High School.

She worked for 30 years at Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland and retired as an executive secretary. After retiring Wildreth volunteered at Lake Region High School and worked with the Foster Grandparent Program.

Friends and loved ones alike often called her “Willy.” She loved to cook and prepare meals for special occasions, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. She also enjoyed going out to lunch or dinner with loved ones. Wildreth went camping for many years at Papoose Pond with her husband and grandchildren, and good friends Mike and Evelyn, Carl, and Maggie and David. She enjoyed playing cards and singing while the men played guitars in the evening, around the campfire. She liked to go fishing and snowmobiling and also to a dance on a summer evening.

She kept a very clean and neat home and her kitchen was her favorite room. She was an early riser and loved her first cup of coffee in the morning, often accompanied by a good crossword from the paper. An avid reader, she loved a good mystery novel.

She had an infectious laugh and enjoyed a good joke or story. One of her favorite sayings was, “I cracked up!”

Wildreth was a stylish dresser and was very particular about the way she looked. She was sure to have her “hair done,” on a regular schedule. She always kept cards and letters from family and friends and could not bear to throw one out. She enjoyed all kinds of music and was always eager to hear a new artist.

She loved her little dog, “Holly,” who was a close companion for 13 years.

With Wildreth, her glass was always, “half full” and not half empty. She loved to receive new pictures of her great-grandchildren and she was an avid “Facebook” enthusiast.

Wildreth eventually became a “Snow Bird,” spending her winters in Fla. and returning to spend summers in Maine. Two years ago she moved to Pace, Fla. full-time to live near her daughter. She was a devoted Mother and Grandmother and will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Austin H. Burnell. She was also predeceased by two sisters, Donna Lee and Sharon Demers. Surviving siblings are: Alston Wormwood of Standish, Waverly Turgo of Portland, and Ronald Wormwood of Scarborough. Surviving children are Austin R. Burnell and wife Kim of Parsonsfield, and Debra R. MacKenzie and husband Dean of Pace, Fla. Surviving  grandchildren, Aaron, Daniel, Christopher, and Tara. Surviving great-grandchildren are McKayla, Claire, Morgan, Aidan, Tyler and Jordan; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved.

A Memorial Service will be held for Wildreth C. Burnell at the North Sebago Methodist Church, on Rt. 114 in North Sebago, Maine on Monday July 11, 2011 at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Donations may be made online at: www.cancer.org or by mail to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.