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Carole Gatchell

Date of Death: December 23, 2024

Date of Birth: March 18, 1941

Biography:

GATCHELL, Carole I. (Shaunesey)  Cherished wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away on December 23, 2024 at the age of 83, surrounded by her loving children.  She was the daughter of Irving and Eleanor (Varney) Shaunesey.

Carole was born in Lewiston, Maine on March 18th, 1941, and was raised in Auburn.  She enjoyed playing the french horn in the high school band and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1959.  She studied at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, became a licensed x-ray technician in 1961 and was employed by Stephen’s Memorial Hospital. 

Carole met the love of her life, Herman Gatchell, on a blind date set up by his sister and they married in April of 1962.  They enjoyed 57 years of marriage together before his death in early 2020.  They raised their family in Lewiston and spent their summers on Crescent Lake in Raymond.  While busy raising their three children, Carole was employed as a substitute teacher with the Lewiston school system and was later employed for many years as a screen printer and supervisor at RODCO Products in Lewiston.  Carole returned to Stephen’s Memorial Hospital as an x-ray technician in 1992 until her retirement several years later.

Carole and Herman had a shared love of travel which led them on many adventures including a cross-country drive to Alaska, walking the Great Wall of China and voyaging through the Panama Canal.  Carole was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, cousin and friend and was happiest when surrounded by them.

Carole is survived by her children, Herman Gatchell Jr. of Auburn; Todd Gatchell and his wife Nancy of Poland; Kelly Procter and her husband David of Tyngsboro, MA; her sister-in-law Margaret Bernhardt of North Conway, NH; six grandchildren: Ashley Wescott and her husband Nicholas of Gray; Chelsea Gosselin and her husband Christopher of Minot; Andrew Gatchell and his wife Katelynn of Hebron; Nathaniel Procter and his wife Kelsey of Belchertown, MA; Benjamin Procter and his wife Luna of Boston, MA; Samuel Procter of Tyngsboro, MA; and eight great-grandchildren.  Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Irving and Eleanor (Varney) Shaunesey Sr. and her brother, Irving Shaunesey Jr.

A funeral service will be held at the chapel at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 980 Turner Street, Auburn, Maine 04210 on Saturday, January 11th at 11am.  All family and friends are welcome to come and share your fond remembrances. Online condolences may be sent to www.funeralalternatives.net.  In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name and specified for use in Lewiston to The Salvation Army, Northern New England Division, 297 Cumberland Avenue, Portland ME  04104.  The family wish to thank Schooner Memory Care in Auburn and Andwell Health Partners for their kind care and support.