OWLS HEAD — Virginia Saastamoinen Crute, 93, wife of Douglas W. Crute, died Friday, March 26, 2021, at Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill in Camden, where the Crute’s have resided the past two years.

Born in Old Town, January 7, 1928, she was the daughter of Henry M. and Leila Grant Stanley. She spent her childhood on Monhegan Island and attended a one-room schoolhouse there, until she graduated from the 8th grade as the only student in her class. As there was no high school on the island, she lived in Old Town with an aunt and attended high school there for a year. The following year, Virginia’s parents moved from Monhegan to Thomaston, where she attended Thomaston Academy, graduating with the class of 1946.

In 1948 she married Walfrid Saastamoinen. They resided in Thomaston and had two daughters, Kristi and Karyl.

Walfrid passed away in 1965. Virginia continued living in Thomaston, raising her two girls and working as a private duty caregiver. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years and volunteered many hours with the Red Cross and March of Dimes.

In 1976 Virginia married Douglas Crute, who was originally from Cushing. She moved to Oakland, California where he lived and worked, staying there until Doug retired in 1990. They then moved back to the East Coast, residing in Owls Head until moving to Quarry Hill in 2019.

Virginia enjoyed traveling and Doug always said she had her bags packed and was ready to go whenever he had to attend a conference. Once back in Maine, she enjoyed attending games the grandchildren were participating in and even drove to Husson College to attend basketball games there.

Other than her parents and first husband, Virginia was predeceased by her daughter Krisit Dugas.

She is survived by her husband Douglas W. Crute; her daughter Karyl Breen and her husband Daniel; her sister Enid Dana; three grandchildren, Matthew Breen and his wife Elizabeth, Katherine Breen, Adam Dugas; four great-grandchildren, Bailey, Olivia, and Tyler Breen and Tiernan Dugas.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 11 a.m., at the Village Cemetery, Erin Street in Thomaston. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.

To share a memory or story with Virginia’s family, or to view a memorial video, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.