Hampden - Althea Elizabeth Zimmerman,94, died at home on July 14, 2021. She was born December 21, 1926, in Howland the daughter of Floyd and Florence (Curtis) Giles.
Althea was an avid senior Olympic bowler. She loved and cared for her four children and her husband who was paralyzed after a wartime injury.
In addition to her parents, Althea was predeceased by her husband, Russell Zimmerman; grandson, James Zimmerman (Marine Corps Lt) KIA 2010; brothers, Dwayne and Eldon Giles. She is survived by her son, Tommy Zimmerman and his wife, Jane; three daughters, Janice Keith, Joanne Bronson, and Karen DeMoranville; grandchildren, Meghan Foster and husband, Nathan of Hodgdon, Maine, Christian Zimmerman and wife, Kathleen of Conroe, Texas; Maddie DeMoranville of Orono and Abigail DeMoranville of Exeter; Great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Miles and Haley Foster of Hodgdon, Madison,Lexi and Alexander Zimmerman of Conroe.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021 at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Interment will be held 12:00 p.m. August 9, 2021 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta.
My Mom will always be the most important person in my life. She was an amazing Mom and human being. She was a strong, talented, faithful soul. She was the strength in our family, holding us all together with her positive attitude. Four little kids and my Dad, a disabled Veteran, and yet all seemed normal to us because she made it so. Music lessons, dance lessons, school events all made possible by her strength. She was an exceptional seamstress, painter and carpenter. She sewed all three girls’ school clothes, dance costumes for all in our group staying up long hours to get done on time for recitals and even wedding gown, bridesmaid gowns as well as the men’s jackets - amazing. She enjoyed immensely gardening as evidenced by her yard. She bowled until she was 90 and was darn good at it. She was a kind soul much loved by everyone who knew her.
I had the honor of spending every day with her for the last year and was by her side when she passed from this life. She is gone from this earth and in a peaceful place now but I will miss her every single day for the rest of my life.
Her daughter, Joanne
A few memories of my Mom: Her beautiful voice filling the kitchen as she sang while happily doing the dishes; Her wonderful smile and her joyous laugh. It still brings a smile to my face even now.
When I introduced her to my future wife, my Mom (and Dad) immediately accepted Jane and made her so welcome. It was so comfortable for Jane to be around them. They even travelled 200 miles to our off road log home I built in Van Buren to spend time with us. They were so accepting. They even purchased a tent and spent one leaky tent night with us before purchasing a motorhome to make the trip. She always wrote us a letter every week; and continued that habit for many years. We were so blessed!
She was so dedicated to Dad's care who required significant personal care for over 25 years due to a spinal cord injury incurred while on leave from the Navy. Her selfless love in action has always been an inspiration. I know I never appreciated what that took while, at the same time raising four children. As a result of those years of physically moving Dad, not a small man, her impressive biceps which popped at the slightest arm movement would be the envy of any young stud.
Her prowess on the ten pin bowling lanes was famous. Her average for many years was close to 200 and she has a few perfect 300 games to her credit. She would play on more than one team many years and was on the lanes year round until she turned 90. She would play in many tournaments and go on to even compete in the senior Olympics in Los Vegas and scored on the longest lane in the world ( I have the T-shirt to prove it). And she did all this for fun and to be with her friends.
And then she had this thing about never cutting any of those shrubs and trees she painstakingly ( some of it mine) planted on her one acre of ground!
These last few years, I have made a point to always say, " I love you, Mom" before hanging up the phone. It eventually became multiple calls each day but I always assured her I loved her. And she would respond in kind. If she was miffed with me, I would have to pause longer before I heard it and occasionally, it didn't come; then I knew I was in trouble. But it did not last long. I miss that already!
Another of the GREATEST GENERATIONS has passed.
I LOVE you Mom!!! ❤
The DeMoranvilles, Karen, daughter, and granddaughter, Abigail DeMoranville, from Exeter, Maine; Maddie DeMoranville, granddaughter, Orono, Maine and also their dad, Paul will deeply miss you and have you in our thoughts every minute of every single day.
Thank you for all the birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, Thanksgivings and all the activities that you were present for in Maddie and Abigail's activities. So many memories and life's lessons you have given us, too many to list. You made them all so special. Thank you for showing me what real strength, courage, and kindness is. It is the guidance that I needed to raise Maddie and Abigail into the beautiful young women they are today. This is one of your many legacies that will be carried on for generations.
I love you mom - gone too soon.
Dear Mom:
This letter is for my mother who was my comforter:
The footsteps I would wake to, her in the kitchen getting breakfast,
The arms I would feel when I was scared
The soft voice I would hear when I was lonely
The clicking of needles knitting us a new sweater
The whirring of the sewing machine making our new wardrobe for school
Your calling us to the supper table after you cooked another wonderful meal
The laughter heard throughout our home you made for us
In times of trouble, your quiet presence was a comfort.
Thank you for the comfort you gave.
Thank you Lord for giving her comfort as she went from us.
Rest in Peace and Comfort,
Love Janice
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Althea Elizabeth Zimmerman, please visit our flower store.
Althea was an avid senior Olympic bowler. She loved and cared for her four children and her husband who was paralyzed after a wartime injury.
In addition to her parents, Althea was predeceased by her husband, Russell Zimmerman; grandson, James Zimmerman (Marine Corps Lt) KIA 2010; brothers, Dwayne and Eldon Giles. She is survived by her son, Tommy Zimmerman and his wife, Jane; three daughters, Janice Keith, Joanne Bronson, and Karen DeMoranville; grandchildren, Meghan Foster and husband, Nathan of Hodgdon, Maine, Christian Zimmerman and wife, Kathleen of Conroe, Texas; Maddie DeMoranville of Orono and Abigail DeMoranville of Exeter; Great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Miles and Haley Foster of Hodgdon, Madison,Lexi and Alexander Zimmerman of Conroe.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021 at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Interment will be held 12:00 p.m. August 9, 2021 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta.
My Mom will always be the most important person in my life. She was an amazing Mom and human being. She was a strong, talented, faithful soul. She was the strength in our family, holding us all together with her positive attitude. Four little kids and my Dad, a disabled Veteran, and yet all seemed normal to us because she made it so. Music lessons, dance lessons, school events all made possible by her strength. She was an exceptional seamstress, painter and carpenter. She sewed all three girls’ school clothes, dance costumes for all in our group staying up long hours to get done on time for recitals and even wedding gown, bridesmaid gowns as well as the men’s jackets - amazing. She enjoyed immensely gardening as evidenced by her yard. She bowled until she was 90 and was darn good at it. She was a kind soul much loved by everyone who knew her.
I had the honor of spending every day with her for the last year and was by her side when she passed from this life. She is gone from this earth and in a peaceful place now but I will miss her every single day for the rest of my life.
Her daughter, Joanne
A few memories of my Mom: Her beautiful voice filling the kitchen as she sang while happily doing the dishes; Her wonderful smile and her joyous laugh. It still brings a smile to my face even now.
When I introduced her to my future wife, my Mom (and Dad) immediately accepted Jane and made her so welcome. It was so comfortable for Jane to be around them. They even travelled 200 miles to our off road log home I built in Van Buren to spend time with us. They were so accepting. They even purchased a tent and spent one leaky tent night with us before purchasing a motorhome to make the trip. She always wrote us a letter every week; and continued that habit for many years. We were so blessed!
She was so dedicated to Dad's care who required significant personal care for over 25 years due to a spinal cord injury incurred while on leave from the Navy. Her selfless love in action has always been an inspiration. I know I never appreciated what that took while, at the same time raising four children. As a result of those years of physically moving Dad, not a small man, her impressive biceps which popped at the slightest arm movement would be the envy of any young stud.
Her prowess on the ten pin bowling lanes was famous. Her average for many years was close to 200 and she has a few perfect 300 games to her credit. She would play on more than one team many years and was on the lanes year round until she turned 90. She would play in many tournaments and go on to even compete in the senior Olympics in Los Vegas and scored on the longest lane in the world ( I have the T-shirt to prove it). And she did all this for fun and to be with her friends.
And then she had this thing about never cutting any of those shrubs and trees she painstakingly ( some of it mine) planted on her one acre of ground!
These last few years, I have made a point to always say, " I love you, Mom" before hanging up the phone. It eventually became multiple calls each day but I always assured her I loved her. And she would respond in kind. If she was miffed with me, I would have to pause longer before I heard it and occasionally, it didn't come; then I knew I was in trouble. But it did not last long. I miss that already!
Another of the GREATEST GENERATIONS has passed.
I LOVE you Mom!!! ❤
The DeMoranvilles, Karen, daughter, and granddaughter, Abigail DeMoranville, from Exeter, Maine; Maddie DeMoranville, granddaughter, Orono, Maine and also their dad, Paul will deeply miss you and have you in our thoughts every minute of every single day.
Thank you for all the birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, Thanksgivings and all the activities that you were present for in Maddie and Abigail's activities. So many memories and life's lessons you have given us, too many to list. You made them all so special. Thank you for showing me what real strength, courage, and kindness is. It is the guidance that I needed to raise Maddie and Abigail into the beautiful young women they are today. This is one of your many legacies that will be carried on for generations.
I love you mom - gone too soon.
Dear Mom:
This letter is for my mother who was my comforter:
The footsteps I would wake to, her in the kitchen getting breakfast,
The arms I would feel when I was scared
The soft voice I would hear when I was lonely
The clicking of needles knitting us a new sweater
The whirring of the sewing machine making our new wardrobe for school
Your calling us to the supper table after you cooked another wonderful meal
The laughter heard throughout our home you made for us
In times of trouble, your quiet presence was a comfort.
Thank you for the comfort you gave.
Thank you Lord for giving her comfort as she went from us.
Rest in Peace and Comfort,
Love Janice
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Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith
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Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith
Interment
Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery
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