Mary Elizabeth Corbin

WESTBROOK -- Mary Elizabeth (Jones) Corbin passed away on May 15, 2011, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House with her family by her side. Mary is at peace now having spent the past three years battling cancer.

She was born on July 27, 1955, in Portland, to the late Thomas and Charlotte (McGuire) Jones.

Education was incredibly important to Mary. She always told her son, Joshua, that a good education will give you what you want in life. Mary's dedication to learning led her to volunteer with an adult literacy program. She went to college in her 40s so that she could give back to her community and to improve herself as well.

She enrolled at Andover College and received her associate’s degree in accounting, while still working full time. Knowing she could do more, Mary pursued her B.A. in accounting at Husson College, and then enrolled at the University of Southern Maine for a master's degree in adult education. Mary maintained a 4.0 GPA at school throughout her entire college education while also raising her son and working a full-time job.

In her primary career, she spent many years working in the health insurance field with such companies as Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna and ASG. She played a pivotal role in the development of the Dirigo health plan. Mary also had a second career teaching first-year students at USM.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Charlotte Jones; and is survived by her husband John and son Joshua, who love her dearly. Mary is also missed by her brother, Thomas Jones, and sisters along with their husbands, Eleanor and Howard Spear, Peggy and Rocco Leo, Theresa and James Brown, and Ashley DiMarco; as well as many other friends and family members.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Thursday, May 19, 2011, from 4-8 p.m., at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Prayers will be recited on Friday, May 20, 2011, at 9 a.m., at the funeral home, to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St., Portland. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Mary's guest book.

Donations in Mary's honor can be made to Hospice of Southern Maine where she was cared for and loved in her final days. Please send donations to: Hospice of Southern Maine, Attn.: Development, 180 U.S. Route One, #1, Scarborough, Maine 04074. Donations can also be made to the Mary Elizabeth Corbin Memorial Scholarship, which will help a student at Portland High School achieve their own college dreams. Scholarship donations can be sent to:

Mary Elizabeth Corbin Scholarship, Care of City of Portland, P.O. Box 544, Portland, Maine 04112.

Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Services

199 Woodford St.

Portland, ME 04103

207-775-3763

www.jonesrichandhutchins.com