LINCOLNVILLE — Pauline E. Schuessler, 87, widow of Henry G. Schuessler formerly of Lincolnville, died on Sunday, January 21, 2018 in Holly Hill, Florida. 

Born in Northampton, Massachusetts, on March 7, 1930, she was the daughter of Edmund N. and Delia (St. Jacques) Blanchette.  Following her 1948 graduation from Danvers High School, she attended Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing receiving her degree as a registered nurse in 1951.  She was a licensed RN in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine.

On August 23, 1952 in Lowell, Massachusetts, Pauline married Henry “Hank” G. Schuessler, and in 1964 they moved to Youngtown Road in Lincolnville where they raised their four children.  Following Hank’s death in 2006, she continued to live at their home until the spring of 2013. 

Affectionately known as “Polly”, she had a successful career in the medical field with extensive experience in operating rooms as a private and general scrub nurse as well as a central supply supervisor.  She worked at both Camden Community and Knox County hospitals.  In 1974, she joined Dr. John Gee’s oral surgeon practice in Rockland as his surgical office nurse and moved on in the early 1980s to work as Dr. Donald Weaver’s internal medicine office nurse until her retirement.  She took great care in these roles and touched many patient’s lives in the Midcoast area. 

Her mother, Delia, was proud to tell people that Polly was “smart and fearless” and “once she put her mind to something, you knew it would get done.”  Although she was just under 5 feet tall, Polly was confident in her nursing skills and surgical assistant techniques, and she stood her ground when working side-by-side with numerous surgeons. 

Polly had many hobbies and she loved trying new things. She canned and froze her home-grown produce; made dandelion wine, raised goats for milking; and raised sheep for their wool which she carded, hand dyed, spun and knitted or wove into beautiful items to sell at craft fairs.  She loved reading, sewing, knitting, crocheting and cross-stitching.

Polly was an avid gardener, and many admired her extensive array of flowers.  Nothing made her happier than spending hours tending to her gardens.  Even at age 80 you were likely to find her outside, all covered up with black-fly netting in the garden, and content being in the fresh air.

Her ability to read a book and then implement techniques without one-on-one instruction was remarkable, and her talent as a weaver and a quilter were admired.  She won many quilting awards for her beautiful creations, and she left a cherished legacy for her family and friends through those items.

Polly enjoyed traveling and accompanied her son and daughter-in-law on several cruises and trips to countries around the world.  Her favorite memory was of the Amber Room located in the Catherine Palace near Saint Petersburg. 

Polly’s favorite local charity was the P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter in Camden, and she often donated her hand-quilted items to them for their fundraising efforts.  In 2013 her Dresden Plate quilt was raffled raising $1,000 for the shelter.  Her daughter Paula picked the winning ticket purchased by a couple from Alabama who had traveled to Maine to sail that fall on a local schooner.  The couple deeply appreciated shelters, especially those in the northern part of the country that provided aid after disasters like Katrina.  They were extremely happy to have won the quilt and generously donated more money to P.A.W.S. in Polly’s honor writing “A quilt is like a warm hug from someone you love or memories of someplace you’ve been.  Friends over the years you never forget. Each time we snuggle in the quilt, it will bring back the joy and precious memories of Maine.” Pictures of this beautiful quilt can be viewed at  martistonephotography.zenfolio.com/paws/h69b595ba#h6c16081e 

Her final years, following a stroke that paralyzed her left side in December 2015, were spent in Holly Hill, Florida, just two miles from her youngest daughter Karen.  There, accompanied by Karen and sometimes her husband Stuart, Polly enjoyed daily excursions on the grounds of Bishops Glen Retirement Center to the gazebo to feed dozens of turtles in the pond and enjoy the warm Florida sunshine.  Karen’s dogs, Rosie and Lola often joined in, and Polly simply loved being with them. 

Surviving are her four children, all of whom Polly was so very proud, William Schuessler and his wife, Joanne of Minneapolis, MN; Paula Schuessler of Rockland; Lee Ann Schuessler of Hobe Sound, FL; and Karen Raven and her husband, Stuart of Holly Hill, FL; three grandchildren, Allie-Marie Raven, Michelle Raven, and Brittany Schuessler; a sister, Patricia L’Heureux; and several nieces and nephews.  Pauline was predeceased by her husband, Henry G. Schuessler; a daughter, Suzanne Schuessler (1961); her sister Natalie Levasseur; and her brothers Raymond and Norman Blanchette.

A private graveside service will be held in the spring. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.

Since Polly’s children live in three states, they request that condolences and fond remembrances of their mother be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. 

If desired, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, PO Box 707, Rockport, Maine  04856.