Priscilla Deetjen, 94, of Boothbay Harbor, formerly of Portland, passed away on May 13 at the Gregory Wing in Boothbay.
She was born in Portland on Feb. 21, 1915, the daughter of Stephen and Mary Carey Hayes. She received her nurses training from Dr. Wilbur Leighton in Portland, where she trained at the Adam P. Leighton Hospital of Nursing. After graduation, she worked at Portland City Hospital. Priscilla also worked as delivery nurse and critical care nurse at the Osteopathic Hospital for 25 years. While working as a delivery room nurse she helped to deliver a set of quads in 1952, which was a rare occurrence at that time. Twenty years later she also helped in assisting with the birth of one the quad’s children.
In 1982 she moved to Boothbay Harbor where she remained active in nursing, serving her community as a private duty nurse well into her 80s. She was always on the go and loved people. She was also an avid reader and proud to know many authors and their works. Priscilla enjoyed making her weekly trips to the library. She was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Boothbay Harbor.
She was predeceased by her husband William in 1978; brother, Robert Hayes; and sister, Elizabeth Thomson.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Louise O’Toole and husband Michael of Monroe, Ga., and Carol Ann Gritz and husband Edward of New Boston, Mich.; two sons, William S. Deetjen and wife Linda of Portland, and John H. Deetjen, Sr. and wife Carol of Boothbay Harbor; grandchildren, Kevin, Caroline, Brian, Lisa, Linda, Ann Marie, Jennifer, Kristine, Karen, John, William, and Robert; many great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Maude DiPietro, Florence King, and Louise Royall.
Funeral mass May 18 at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Boothbay Harbor. Father Alfred Irving officiated. Burial will be held at the Maine Veterans Cemetery 9 a.m., Thurs., May 21.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, 4 Oak St., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Boothbay.
