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Phyllis Harrington
In Memory of
Phyllis
Harrington (Curtis)
1928 - 2017
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Obituary for Phyllis Harrington (Curtis)

Phyllis  Harrington (Curtis)
Bangor - Phyllis (Curtis) Harrington, 89, a woman who exemplified style and grace, passed Wednesday morning September 13, 2017 just eight weeks after the passing of her adoring husband Russell K. Harrington Sr. Her beloved son and daughter were holding her at the time of her death. She saw us draw our first breath and we saw her draw her last. She tried so hard to go on after Russell's passing but their love couldn't keep them apart. The family takes solace in them being together again.

Phyllis was born on January 30, 1928 in Harrington, ME the eldest of four children to parents Ralph H. and Frances L. (Ashe) Curtis. Her childhood and young adulthood were spent in Harrington. She graduated from Harrington High School in 1945. She played basketball on the Harrington team through her high school years. After high school she attended Bangor Maine School of Commerce, now Husson College, graduating in 1946 from the Junior Secretarial program. While at college she played basketball for Coach Clara Swan who she admired very much. During this time Phyllis picked up the nickname Curt. In the 1946 yearbook, The Chieftain, Coach Swan said "Curt, you have improved the most of anyone on the entire squad this year. Your ability to bend your opponents over almost double, and not foul, and your guarding in the corners saved us many a time. Your fighting spirit kept us going all season". Phyllis made many lifelong friends while at school.

After graduation she returned to Harrington where she became a secretary at Frye Realty. During this time she returned to Harrington High School to coach girl's basketball where she had earned her class letter in the sport. Her second year of coaching there created an undefeated season for her team. She followed basketball throughout the rest of her life, enjoying the Maine high school tournaments each year.

On September 26, 1948 she married Russell K. Harrington Sr. of Cherryfield at the Methodist Church in her hometown of Harrington. They soon moved to Bangor where they would spend nearly 69 years of married life together. After a few years of apartment life they bought their family home at 9 Vine Street. They raised their children there and would remain in that home for 50 years. Many wonderful family memories were made there.

After arriving in Bangor both Phyllis and Russell were employed by the Hammond Shoe Co. where she was secretary to the company president. After the birth of her son she worked at Tidewater Oil Co. in Brewer. In the mid 1960's Phyllis and Russell owned and operated a Montgomery Ward Catalog Store on Central Street. Soon after the birth of her daughter she returned to the workforce at The Counseling Center, now Community Health and Counseling Services. She worked as an administrative assistant in the Adult Day Treatment Program and in the Children's Services Program. She retired after nearly 30 years of service there. Throughout her work life she made many special and lifelong friends. During this time she also handled all of the bookkeeping for Russell's contracting business.

Phyllis was a devoted member and active parishioner of Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor for more than 60 years. She served on various church committees and was active in the Women's Fellowship program. Both she and Russell enjoyed dressing well, especially for church each Sunday. Phyllis had been an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for many years. She also volunteered at many of the YWCA spring fairs, and most recently was a member of the Volunteers of America Bangor Advisory Committee.

Phyllis is survived by her son Russell K. Harrington Jr. and his partner for life Walter Gary who Phyllis loved as her own, her daughter Rhonda Cashell, her beloved and adored grandsons, Curtis Harrington Cashell & Cameron Russell Cashell, and their father Timothy Cashell all of N. Yarmouth, ME. She is also survived by all of her siblings, Elmer B. Curtis and his wife Evelyn of CA, Doris C. Vose of Harrington, ME, and Joyce C. Bousquet of FL. They are all blessed to have remained extremely close throughout their lives and to have spent time together this summer. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews from both the Curtis and Harrington families. She loved each of you. A special niece, Joyce Jamison, was at her side with her children at the time of her passing. She and her husband Alan have been an important and loving part of Phyllis and Russell's lives and Joyce was always there during the difficult last few months. Numerous close and special friends also survive. She so enjoyed each of you.

She was predeceased by her parents as well as Russell's siblings Thelma Smith, Leroy Harrington, Evelyn Dorr and their spouses all of whom she loved very much. She was also predeceased by two nephews Michael Foster and Leroy (Lee) Harrington.

Phyllis lived a full and happy life. She was most proud of her children and grandchildren and the times we were all together. Fortunately that was often and we will carry those memories with us for the rest of our days. The void in our lives has grown larger with her passing. We were blessed to have them both for so long. It's just never enough when a family's love is so deep and enduring. We will miss you deeply until we see you once again.

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Friday September 22, 2017 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor where a funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday September 23, 2017. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor immediately following the service. Interment will follow the reception at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor.

Those wishing to remember Phyllis in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the recently established Harrington Memorial Building Fund at Hammond Street Congregational Church, P. O. Box 1106, Bangor, ME 04402-1106. Gifts should be made payable to Hammond Street Congregational Church with Harrington Fund in the memo line. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingSmith.com.
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