Phillis Hammond Crommett

Harpswell - Phillis Hammond Crommett, 87, of Portland, Maine passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 21, 2013. She was born in Portland Maine on June 23, 1925, and was raised by Irving and Mildred Hammond of Lincoln Street in Portland. Phillis graduated from Deering High School and the University of Maine at Orono, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in English. She lived and worked in Boston while her husband was in law school. They then moved back to Portland and returned to the Woodfords area to raise their four children.

Phillis believed in keeping busy and giving back. She was a dedicated volunteer and taught typing to students at the Cerebral Palsy Center. She was also a Master Bridge player and used her talents to teach bridge at the YWCA in Portland. She was a volunteer teacher of both typing and bridge for over 20 years.

She loved holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas. Her Christmas cookies were famous and she was disappointed if she did not get to give candy to at least 100 kids on Halloween. Her elaborate Easter egg hunts were as much fun as Christmas for her children and grandchildren.

She enjoyed entertaining friends and family, and loved to cook and to bake. She loved to laugh and to make others do the same. She organized bridge games, bowled “competitively” in the winter, watched the Celtics -and for 40 summers played golf at the Portland Country Club in Falmouth, Maine. If not at a yard sale or shopping for bargains, you could find her with her friends drinking coffee and talking at her kitchen table on Seeley Avenue or entertaining at the family camp on Little Sebago.

Her family, children, their spouses and grandchildren were of paramount importance to her. She was very proud of all of them and especially of her “perfect” grandchildren. Phillis also had a soft spot for her dogs and for all cats, and a squirrel named Charlie.

Phillis was predeceased by her husband Herbert, of 53 years, and her granddaughter Courtney Hammond Crommett. She is survived by four children: Leslie Newell and her husband Bill of Denver, Co., Barry Crommett and wife Barbara of Harpswell, Craig Crommett of North Yarmouth, Laurel Crommett and Andee Williams of Leeds, Ma, her grandchildren, Marisa Crommett of Portland, Matthew Crommett and wife Sophie of Dallas, Texas and Peter Crommett of Somerville, Ma., Allison Newell of Durango, Co., Jennifer and husband Richie Netherly of Severance, Co. and great-grandchildren, Micaela and Malia Netherly.

The family would like to thank all of the helpful and supportive people at Bay Square in Yarmouth and at the Vicarage in Harpswell for making Phillis’ last years as comfortable and as pleasant as they were.

A time of gathering and visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., with tributes offered at 1:00 p.m. at Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodfords Street, Portland, Maine.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in Phillis’ memory to the Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Rd., Brunswick, Me 04111 or the Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, 383 US Route One #2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.