SCARBOROUGH — Christine Lillian Toohey, 84, died Feb. 5 at the Holbrook Health Center of Piper Shores after a brief illness.

Toohey was born in Philadelphia, Pa. on Feb. 21, 1927, to George and Mary Clements. She grew up in New York City and Cambridge, Mass., and attended Holy Cross Academy, Cambridge Latin School and Regis and Chandler Business School.

She worked for the city of Cambridge for several years. In June 1952, she married Thomas D. Toohey Jr. at St. Thomas Church in Wilmington, Mass. She dedicated her life to home and raising nine children.

She was a devoted daughter and mother and family always came first. She moved her parents from Wilmington to Portland so they could be near her home. She was a model stay-at-home mom and took great pride in the achievement that all nine of her children attended college.

Toohey enjoyed spending time at the beach, especially Pine Point, where the family had a home. She kept a playpen on the beach when her children were small. Later in life she enjoyed spending time in Fort Pierce, Fla. with her husband, Tom, and after his death in 1988, with her cronies from Maine. She was joined frequently by her children and grandchildren at her homes in Pine Point and Fort Pierce.

Her trips to Filene’s Basement in Boston, Mass. were legendary. She was always looking for a bargain as one might expect of a mother with such a large family. She became well known to the staff at various local department stores. In her later years, she became a flashy dresser and truly enjoyed cheering up the residents of Piper Shores with her fashionable outfits and accessories.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1988. Toohey is survived by her daughters Christine M. Toohey of Portland, Susan Hamill and her husband, Donald, of Scarborough and Moira Erickson and her husband, Paul, of Scarborough; sons Thomas D. Toohey III of Vero Beach, Fla., Paul Toohey and his wife, Jeanne Hackett, of Scarborough, Peter Toohey and his wife, Cathryn, of Old Orchard Beach, John Toohey of Fort Pierce, Fla., Matthew Toohey of Scarborough and Brian Toohey of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; and 20 grandchildren.

Visiting hours were held on Feb. 8 at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church on Feb. 9. Burial took place at New Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

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