CAMDEN — Pauline Marcelle Bazinet Johnstone, 72 passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine. She was born March 14, 1951 to Rene and Cecile Bazinet (Douillard) in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Pauline graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School in 1968 and Providence Hospital School of Nursing in 1971, where she was president of her class. Always wanting to learn more, Pauline studied, trained and achieved certification as a CCRN with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, becoming one of only three nurses certified in Western Massachusetts at the time.

She married C. Douglas Johnstone on December 21, 1974 in South Hadley, Massachusetts. They celebrated 48 years together last year.

Pauline worked in the ICU/CCU in Providence Hospital and was the Head Nurse in the ICU when her daughter, Kara D. Bazinet, was born in 1978. She then moved to the Chicago, Illinois area and worked in Central Dupage Hospital Emergency Department in Wheaton.

Her son, Michael D. Johnstone, was born shortly before moving to Maine in the summer of 1982 where Pauline started working in the Special Care Unit at the Pen Bay Medical Center. After two or three years there she was invited to work in the Emergency Department, where she remained for many years until the Anticoagulation Clinic was established. She was also involved with the Hazmat Program implementation, training, and leadership at PBMC.

Pauline was significantly instrumental in the formation and leadership of the Camden Area Christian Food Pantry, and for many years volunteered with the pantry, including serving as the President. She was passionate and committed to its success in providing for the people of our community.

Pauline was an active participant at Our Lady of Good Hope Church in Camden. She coordinated a sister parish relationship with El Pueblo de Dios en Camino (The People of God on the Journey), in El Salvador. Pauline had the honor of being part of a local medical team that made many trips to Honduras and Guatemala to provide care in remote areas. She also participated in several trips to Guatemala for stove building projects with Masons on a Mission.

Pauline was very proud to have received the Bishop Amedee Proulx, State of Maine Catholic Charities Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006.

A lover of nature, gardening, and hiking, she took many trips to Baxter State Park with her “posse” of friends. She was blessed to be able to walk the Camino de Santiago three times. Twice on the Francis Camino, and once on the Portuguese Camino. She loved being in the outdoors and enjoyed sharing that love with her children and granddaughter Lola. Anyone who ever met Pauline found her to be focused and determined, yet filled with generosity, kindness and spirit.

Always adventurous she found good reasons to follow Kara and Michael on their various journeys in England, Canada, France, Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, China, Taiwan, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Pauline is survived by her husband, Dr. C. Douglas Johnstone of Camden, Maine; daughter, Kara Bazinet of Camden, Maine; son, Michael Johnstone, daughter-in-law Heidi Johnstone, and granddaughter Lola Johnstone, of Springfield, Virginia; sisters Susan M. Burns of Ashburn, Virginia, Anne M. Parsons of Northampton, Massachusetts; and brother, Peter R. Bazinet of Broad Brook, Connecticut.

Donations may be made to the Caring Fund in memory of Pauline, at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, Caring Fund, 7 Union Street in Camden, ME 04843; or the Camden Area Food Pantry, 128 Mt. Batty Street, Camden, ME 04843.

Calling Hours will be held Friday, June 16, 2023, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, Seven Union Street, in Camden. A burial service will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. A reception will follow at the church.

To share a memory or story with Pauline’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com