Muriel Whyte Britton

Muriel Whyte Britton October 19, 1924 August 11, 2016 Scarborough - Muriel ""Mim"" Whyte Britton, 91, of South Portland and Orient, ME, died peacefully on August 11, 2016 at Gosnell Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family. Mim was born on October 19, 1924 in Mexico, ME, to Howard and Mary (Paterson) Whyte and was raised in Rumford. She graduated from Stevens HS in 1942 and from Boston Children's School of Nursing in 1946. She worked as a pediatric nurse and ran a research unit for Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In 1949, Mim married Richard ""Dick"" Chadwick Britton, MD and moved to New York City, where she worked at Babies Hospital until she started her own family. She was the devoted mother of four children (twins Barbara and Susan, Russell and Jayne) and was always actively involved in their lives and, later, in the lives of her grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Mim was a hostess extraordinaire. She loved to cook and entertain and hosted hundreds of dinner parties for family and friends, and for Dick's colleagues and medical residents. In later years she was thought of as the Grand Dame of East Grand Lake and was best known for her carrot cakes and Goop parties. Mim had an opportunity to travel with Dick in the US and internationally many times over the years to medical conferences. Wherever Dick's career took them, Mim planted firm roots and was always deeply involved in service to her community. Over many decades she was involved in Boy and Girl Scouts, Planned Parenthood, SMAAA, AARP tax assistance program, Hospice, and the consumer complaint division of the Attorney General's Office. She was treasurer of the Portland YWCA Board, and president of the Board of Sweetser Children's Home. Mim and her ""Bookies"" raised thousands of dollars for Maine Medical Center through their annual book sale. She also served on the board of the Pine Tree Burn Foundation which was founded by her husband. Mim was nominated for a Jefferson Award and was one of the first recipients of the Living Legacy Award, Mim's faith was an integral part of her life and she was actively involved in her church community wherever she lived, serving on three vestries and as Senior Warden at St. Mark's Church in Augusta. When she returned to South Portland after Dick's death, she rejoined St. Albans Church in Cape Elizabeth and was a very involved member of the congregation for many years. She was very proud to have completed an intensive four-year course of study, Education for Ministry, thru the Cathedral of St. Lukes in Portland. Mim was predeceased by her husband, Richard C. Britton, MD; her parents Howard and Mary Whyte; her sister Jean and brother-in-law Albin Visnauskis; and brother-in-law Joseph Britton. She is survived by her four children who adored her: Susan Pettingill of Portland; Barbara (Gary) Novick of Guilford, CT; Russell (Julie, whom Mim thought of as a daughter) Britton, MD of Cape Elizabeth; and Jayne Britton of Sanford. Also surviving her are seven grandchildren: Jonathan (Allison); Katie (Dan); Matthew (Danielle); Becca; Joanie; Anna; Katerina; and one great-grandchild, Shay. A memorial service celebrating Mim's life will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St Albans Episcopal Church, 885 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth. Burial will take place at a later date. ~ ~ ~ ~ In lieu of flowers, Mim asked that donations be made to: The Root Cellar 94 Washington Ave Portland, ME 04101 Or Preble Street Resource Center, Development Department 38 Preble Street Portland, ME 04101

Muriel Whyte Britton

October 19, 1924 - August 11, 2016

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