Kathleen Griggs, 84, of Pemaquid Harbor, died at her home on June 28. She had one of her four children with her throughout her five-week illness.
Kathy, or Caceen, as her longtime friends and grandchildren called her, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 11, 1923, to Kathleen Witherbee and Frank Howell Bulley.
She graduated from Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, Conn. and Bennett College in New York.
Kathy was married to M. Michael Griggs for 58 years. They raised their four children in Greenwich, Conn. and retired to Maine in 1970.
Kathy spoke up for what she believed in and taught by example. She hosted Fresh Air children from New York City, helped support a Vietnamese girl who was a pen pal to her children, and volunteered at Lincoln Hospital in Harlem, N.Y. Kathy also volunteered in schools and at the Skidompha and Bristol area libraries. She brought home stray animals, and when Mike and Kathy retired to Maine, Mike gave Kathy her first horse, Honey, that she loved riding through the woods near her home.
Caceen was a loved and admired mother, grandmother and friend. She was quick to laugh, a great athlete, a talented artist, and gardener. She played touch football, tennis, and took her kids skating, hiking in the Audubon woods, and taught them how to ski. Caceen played waffle ball with her grandchildren up until her 83rd summer.
She was predeceased by her parents; sister, Barbara Edwards; and husband Mike.
She is survived by her four children, Marc Michael Griggs, Jr. of North Andover, Mass., Amanda Miles of Coral Springs, Fla., Katie Gesten and husband Richard of Boulder, Col., and Tim Griggs and wife Jackie of Denver, Col.; and grandchildren, Skylar and Hannah Griggs, Michael and Robert Miles, Garrett, Alexandra and Same Gesten, and Avery and Madison Griggs. They are proud of her and the way she lived her life, and will always remember their Caceen as being unique, independent, daring and spectacular.
Per her wishes, Kathy was cremated. May her remarkable spirit and humor live on through all who knew her.
There will be a celebration of Kathy’s life Sat., Aug. 11 at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Williams College for a scholarship in Michael and Kathleen Griggs’ memory, Williams College Development Office, 75 Park St., Williamstown, MA 01267, or to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at http://www.alzinfo.org.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543.