Bette Teschner Zeller, 85, of New Harbor, died on Jan. 2 at her home after a battle with cancer. She was born July 8, 1925 in Duluth, Minn., the daughter of Hans Edward Bernt and Miriam Hall. She graduated from Newton (Mass.) High School in 1943, attended Monticello Junior College in Illinois, and graduated from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy in 1946. She married her childhood sweetheart Douglass Paul Teschner in 1947, and they raised three sons in Westborough, Mass.
Her husband died tragically in a car accident in 1964. In 1973, she moved to the Pemaquid Trail where the family had owned a summer home since 1960. In 1976, she started Adams Travel in Damariscotta with Charlie Adams. In 1979, she married Dr. Alan W. Zeller in a joyous celebration on Loud’s Island, and they sailed away on their honeymoon, one of their many sea voyages along the Atlantic coast. The couple lived overseas from 1986-1993 when Alan was Medical Director for the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Botswana, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
She was a member and pillar of the Congregational Church of Bristol and a founding member of the Early Birds prayer group. She was a devoted Red Sox and Patriots fan.
Bette was known for her magnanimous personality, loving nature, generous hospitality and optimistic and hopeful, positive energy. She held together and nurtured an extraordinary and extensive network of family and friends. She was famous for baking and delivering countless chocolate chip cookies to everyone she knew. Many charitable organizations and numerous strangers benefited from her endless capacity to give.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Douglass P. Teschner; brother, John Bernt; and parents.
She is survived by her husband Dr. Alan W. Zeller of New Harbor; sons, Douglass Paul Teschner Jr. of Pike, N.H. and Kiev, Ukraine, David Hall Teschner of Petersburg, Va. and James Carver Teschner of Concremiers, France; stepchildren, Frank K. Zeller of Nobleboro, Sarah L. Zeller of Newcastle, Alan W. “Chops” Zeller II of Newcastle, Robert S. Zeller of Boston, Mass. and George W. Zeller of Warrensville, N.C.; sister, Blanche Steiner of Bristol, R.I.; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Interment will be conducted at Pine Grove Cemetery in Westborough, Mass., 1 p.m., Thurs., Jan. 6 with the Rev. F. Robert Brown officiating. Memorial service will be held at the Bristol Congregational Church 1 p.m., Sat., Jan. 8 with the Rev. David Ray and the Rev. Robert Ives officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Carpenter’s Boat Shop, 440 Old County Rd., Pemaquid, ME 04558; Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Rd., Casco, ME 04015; Bristol First Responders, 104 South Side Rd., New Harbor, ME 04554; or the Congregational Church of Bristol, PO Box 154, Bristol, ME 04539.
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.
