FALMOUTH - On Friday, May 13, 1921,
Nancy Chamberlain Barton was welcomed in- to the world by her
parents, Frederick MacDonald Barton and Marjorie Barstow Smith
in Concord, Mass. This was the luckiest of days for all involved
and cause for great celebration whenever her birthday fell on
Friday the 13th.
Nancy was a loving and devoted wife,
mother and nana. Her greatest joy was time spent with her children
and grandchildren and these special times ranged from sharing
quiet moments to attending rock concerts.
As a child she grew up on a working ranch
in El Cajon, Calif., where she held a paper route, delivering
newspapers by horseback. Summers were spent in Maine on the Islands
of Casco Bay where she developed a deep love of both Cliff and
Chebeague Island. Her father owned and lived on Bates Island for
many years before her birth and she recalled fond memories of
those returning visits.
During World War II as many women entered
the workforce, Nancy operated an overhead crane for the Convair
Aircraft Company in San Diego, Calif.
She was married to Samuel Hackenberger
on Aug. 9, 1953 and together they raised five children.
Nancy was involved in community volunteering
wherever she lived, from California to Maine. Her parents were
both teachers and instilled in her an insatiable quest for knowledge
from history, languages and geography, to oil painting, music
and researching her family genealogy.
Her love of Casco Bay brought her back
to Chebeague Island permanently in 1975 where she and her family
lived for many years. On Chebeague, she became an active member
of the church and church choir, the library and Golf Club.
She had a quiet and reassuring nature
but she also displayed a creative and quick sense of humor. She
never tired in her quest to create the perfect margarita.
She was also a longtime member of the
USM Heartline exercise group which she attended faithfully three
times a week until she became ill.
In 2003 she and her husband Sam celebrated
their 50th anniversary and renewed their weddings vows at a surprise
party given by their children. This was a highlight in her life
and the number of friends and family who turned out to help celebrate
touched her deeply.
She was loved by many and will be missed
by all.
She is survived by her husband, Sam;
children, Jim Hackenberger and wife Rosemary of California, Jean
Cummings and husband Bob of Washington, Michael Hackenberger of
Maine, Nancy Vachon and husband Jim of Portland, and Ruthie Noble
and husband Kirk of Westbrook; grandchildren Chief Master Sgt.
Dennis Hackenberger, Pam McConnell, Melanie Curnow, Sandra Bradford,
Donna Meyer, Jeffrey Putnam, Jeremy Putnam and Ruthie Putnam;
as well as 13 great- grandchildren.
The family would especially like to thank
the caring supportive staff at Mercy Hospital for making this
difficult time endurable.
Please join the family for a non-traditional,
festive celebration of Nancy's life on Friday, Jan. 6, at the
USM Abromson Education Center, Room 213, 88 Bedford St., Portland,
from 5-8:30 p.m.
If desired in lieu of flowers contributions
may be made in her memory to:
The Chebeague Island
Historical Society
P.O. Box 28
Chebeague Island, Maine 04017
Nancy
Chamberlain
Hackenberger