PORTLAND — Gardinal C. Keefe, 87, died peacefully Jan. 1, at Springbrook Nursing Center, in Westbrook.
She was born in Westbrook, the daughter of John C. and Mary Dunn Keefe. She attended local schools and graduated from Westbrook High School, class of 1938, and then from Westbrook Junior College in 1946 with an associate’s in secretarial studies. She worked for the Department of the Army in Orleans, France for 3 1/2 years; the New England Division of the Army Corps of Engineers in Boston, Mass.; Headquarters Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington D.C.; the Army Military Personnel Command and the Army Material Command in Alexandria, Va., retiring in 1993 and subsequently returning to Portland to live.
She was a member of the League of Women Voters; Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women; a dual member of the Maine Federation of BPW, where she served as Parliamentarian; served as a director of the Portland House Condominium Board; and was a member of the YWCA and the Women’s Literary Union.
In her spare time, she enjoyed spending time with friends and traveling to England, Ireland, Scotland, France and many other destinations. She was a devout and lifelong communicant of the Catholic Church.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Springbrook Nursing Center in Westbrook for the wonderful care which they gave during her stay there.
She is survived by a sister, Hazel Blanchard, of Scarborough; brother, John C. and wife, Sarah Gene Keefe; four nephews, Bradford and wife, Angelika Blanchard, of Scarborough, James and wife, Dale Keefe, Patrick Keefe and Timothy Keefe, all of New York; niece, Ruth Ann Keefe; great-nephews, Nathan Blanchard and Brandan Keefe; and niece, Meaghan Keefe.
Visiting hours were held Jan. 4, at the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, Portland. Prayers recited at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland. Burial will be in the spring at St. Hyacinth Cemetery, Westbrook.
Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 or the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102.
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