Obituary of Frances-M. Wheelden

DEER ISLE - Frances M. Wheelden, 84, wife of the late Guilford M. Wheelden, died Dec. 26, 2008, at Island Nursing Home, Deer Isle. She was born Aug. 24, 1924, in Levant, to Joseph and Hazel Mara Getchell. Frances worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years, first as a clerk and then as Postmaster for Little Deer Isle and later for Sargentville, from where she retired in 1992. In addition to her husband, Frances was predeceased by an infant son, Alston. She is survived by her son, Herbert L. and his wife, Autumn-Marie Wheelden of Deer Isle; daughters, Helen D. Gordon of Sullivan and Dorothy F. Powell and her husband, Joseph, of Deer Isle; six brothers and sisters, Ernest Getchell of Corinna, Ethel Brown of Elliot, Linwood Getchell of Levant, Herbert Getchell of Cape Cod, Mass., Darlene Getchell of Carlisle, Pa., and Lee Getchell of Phoenix; grandchildren, Colleen R. Bradstreet, Jean Marie Bizon, Tracy E. Wheelden, Clayton A. Wheelden and Tyann L. Hobbs; 10 great-grandchildren, Deborah, Raymond, Erik, Aubree, Keven, Devon, Peyton, Chelsie, Ivy and Amber; two great-great-grandchildren, Johnathan and Summer; many nieces and nephews, with one special niece and nephew, Howard U. Getchell Jr. and wife, Kim, and Darlene Jackson; and a special third daughter, Linda (Carter) Haskell of Little Deer Isle. Frances is to be cremated by Cremation Services of Maine, Belfast. A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations in honor of her memory be made to either Deer Isle Fire Department, Little Deer Isle, ME 04650 or Island Pantry, Deer Isle, ME 04627.