Gaye (McFarland) Lapomarda

Gaye (McFarland) Lapomarda July 14, 1947 May 14, 2014 Gaye (McFarland) Lapomarda, 66, of Hearthside Road Standish, died at home in the company of her family after a 14-year fight against cancer. She was first diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and fought multiple forms of the disease. During these years, she was a model of vitality, planning and completing a 2-year cross-county trip with Pasquale, her loving husband of 43 years. Born July 14, 1947 at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine to Harold and Priscilla (Currier) McFarland of Westbrook, Gaye spent her childhood years among her extended family in the highlands along the former Cumberland and Oxford Canal route. She attended Westbrook public school (Westbrook High class of 1965), where she joined the Future Teachers of America. She prepared for the profession she loved, first at the University of Maine, Orono, then at the University of Southern Maine. After graduating in 1969, she moved to Connecticut, but returned back to Maine after meeting her husband, Pasquale Lapomarda Jr., while on break visiting family. They married in Westbrook in 1971 and moved to Portland, where she lived and taught in the Portland school system. She started teaching at Lincoln Junior High when she was first married, but after her children Pasquale Lapomarda III and Julie (Lapomarda) Natale were school-age, returned as a Special Education teacher, beginning a vocation of helping at-risk children succeed. When her daughter Sara Lapomarda was born, she returned to USM, earning a Master's degree in Special Education, allowing her to further refine her teaching methods which challenged all her students to succeed. Throughout her career, former students would contact her to thank her for giving them a chance and to share their success with her. She always believed in everyone and wanted the best for them. During school breaks, Gaye enjoyed spending time with family, especially vacations and day-trips. Upon retiring in 2007, she fulfilled a life-long dream by going on a cross-country road-trip with her husband, eventually visiting every US state except Hawaii (which she had previously visited on a school break). During this trip, she made a point to stop and visit with friends and family that had relocated from Maine and shared this experience by posting daily blog entries and photos of each day's events. During this trip, she returned to Lake Havasu, Arizona several times, eventually spending winters there in a community of other retired teachers. Through her signature laugh and interacting with every person she encountered, she quickly made new friends wherever she went and brought them into her life as if they were family. Gaye was a beloved and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grandmother, cousin, and friend who lived everyday to the fullest. She was predeceased by her mother in 2006 and several aunts and uncles, also from cancer. She is survived by her husband, Pasquale Lapomarda Jr., children and spouses Pasquale III and Shawn-Elise Lapomarda of Portland, Julie and Matthew Natale of Westbrook, and Sara Lapomarda of Dorchester, MA. She also leaves 3 grandchildren: Pasquale IV, Maddalena, and David; her father, Harold (Johnny) McFarland of Gorham, brother and sister-in-law, Terry & Carol McFarland of Westbrook, sisters and brothers-in-law: Virginia Lapomarda of Portland, who provided her loving care during her final days, Concetta & George Ethier of Cranston, RI, Vincent Lapomarda, S.J. of Worcester, MA, and Josephine Sgroi of Littleton, MA. Her many nieces, nephews, and cousins also mourn her loss. Friends and family are invited to a period of visitation, which will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on May 18, 2014 at A.T. Hutchins Funeral and Cremation Services, 660 Brighton Ave., Portland. Vincent Lapomarda, S.J. will officiate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on May 19, 2014 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 72 Federal St., Portland. Interment at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland will immediately follow. To offer condolences and share memories with the family please go to www.athutchins.com. The family would like to thank the very dedicated staff at Mercy Oncology Center & VNA Home Health and Hospice that provided care for her. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations of service or finances be made to: Mercy Oncology Center C/o Development Office 144 State St Portland, ME VNA Home Health and Hospice 50 Foden Rd South Portland, ME Portland High School Special Ed Scholarship 284 Cumberland Ave Portland, ME 04101

Gaye (McFarland) Lapomarda

July 14, 1947 - May 14, 2014

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