Pauline (Polly) H. Whiting, 87, passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2016 at the Lincoln Home in Newcastle. Born in Milbridge on Oct. 30, 1929, she was the daughter of Wallace L. Farnsworth and Thelma D. Simonton.
At the age of 10 she moved with her mother to Newton, Mass. and later to Hingham, Mass. where she lived for most of her life. Polly graduated from Hingham High School in 1948, and in 1950 wed Richard S. Whiting Sr., a Hingham firefighter to whom she was married for 60 years. Early in her adult life she was a member of the Congregational Church in Hingham where she taught Sunday school until starting a family of her own.
After an early job at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Boston, Polly worked for many years at Hugo’s restaurant in Cohasset, Mass., followed by more than 15 years at the Talbots Inc. corporate headquarters in Hingham.
An avid reader, Polly loved mysteries, was a long-time volunteer at the Hingham Public Library and harbored a secret desire to be a writer herself. She loved to travel, and treasured her memories of trips around Europe, Mexico and across the U.S. Later in life she enjoyed, reading, watching classic movies, doing puzzles and being a companion to her fellow residents at the Lincoln Home. A natural born caregiver, Polly was a very compassionate person who loved children, animals and gardening. The thought of any creature suffering was deeply painful to her.
Besides her parents, Polly was preceded in death by her husband. Richard Whiting Sr.
She is survived by sons, Richard Whiting Jr. and wife Nina Whiting of N. Grafton, Mass., Robert Whiting of both Damariscotta and Todos Santos, Mexico; sister, Rosemary Alley of Jonesport; nephews, a niece, and several great-nephews and nieces. She will also be greatly missed by her caregivers and the residents of the Lincoln Home in Newcastle and Schooner Cove in Damariscotta.
A graveside memorial service is planned for the spring at the Liberty Plain Cemetery in Hingham, Mass.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.