Melissa "Lissa" Krueger

Waterville, ME -- Melissa "Lissa" Krueger lost her battle with cancer at her home in Waterville, Maine on April 2, 2013. She was born on March 11, 1954 in Franklin, NH, the daughter of the late Herman William Krueger and Elizabeth Southworth Krueger.  She lived the majority of her life in Maine, most recently in Waterville.

Survivors include her daughter, Kim Smart of Dover, OH, her brother William Krueger and his wife Marcia of Concord, NH, and her twin sisters: Catherine Morrill and her husband Frank of Hope, ME, and Helen Hanson and her partner David Schwartzkopf of Portland, ME. Also surviving Melissa are her nephews and niece: Kris, Korey and Kelley Krueger. 

Melissa is lovingly remembered by her “adopted” family, the Madigans:  her wonderful friends Elana Madigan and Ron Reed, Colleen Lachowicz, and Alice and Peter Madigan all of Waterville, as well as Jan Clarkin of Augusta:  her boss, her friend, and most importantly, a sister in every way possible.

Her career was spent working at companies that served others. She helped start New Hope for Women in Rockland, Me and worked at Outward Bound, also in Rockland. When she moved to the Waterville area, she ran the Sexual Assault Center in Waterville. For the past 13 years she has served as the program director for the Maine Children’s Trust in Augusta.

 She was an avid reader, skilled at many crafts, had an impressive green thumb and loved old movies. Her intelligence, strength, grace and sense of humor shone through most spectacularly during her illness. She touched everyone who cared for her.

Melissa’s fondest travel desire was to go to Australia. The trip was not possible but through the efforts of Senators Colleen Lachowicz and Tom Saviello, a special visit to the DEW Animal Kingdom and Sanctuary was arranged in her honor. She thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was a very special memory for her. Many thanks to Bob and Julie Miner and especially to Colleen and her sister, Elana Madigan, for making it happen

Family and friends would like to thank the staff at the Harold Alfond Cancer Center in Augusta for their care at the outset of her illness. Very special thanks also go to HealthReach Hospice in Waterville for their excellent care in her final days, and especially to her wonderful nurse Danylle Kelley.

There will be no services at her request. Family and friends will gather together for a celebration of her life in late June. Cremation services are provided by Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services of Portland. Please visit www.advantageportland.com to offer condolences to the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to D.E.W. Animal Kingdom and Sanctuary, 918 Pond Rd, Mt Vernon, ME 04352 or to the Maine Children’s Trust, 24 Stone Street, Suite 1, Augusta, ME  04330.