Birgitta Cattelle

BIRGITTA ANN-MARIE CATTELLE

ELLSWORTH- Birgitta Ann-Marie (Rystrand) Cattelle, 75, passed away peacefully, after an ongoing 18 year battle with cancer, surrounded by family members on March 31, 2019 at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital. She was born June 25, 1943 in Goteborg, Sweden. She was the youngest daughter of Rolf Tage and Ester Matilda (Sjoberg) Rystrand. Birgitta (Gittan) grew up in Goteborg, Sweden. In her early twenties, she moved to New York working for a Swedish shipping company. Shortly afterwards she became a stewardess for ONA Airline. In February of 1971 she was introduced to Bill Cattelle. After a whirlwind romance they were married in August of that year and settled in Hampden, Maine. Over the next six years they had three children- Kristina, Amy and Erik. Gittan was a stay at home mother for fourteen years. She also became a second mother to her niece and nephews during their years as exchange students here in America. In 1988 Gittan enrolled at the University of Maine where she graduated at the top of her class with a degree in education. She taught at Ellsworth Middle School for four years. Gittan and Bill then became educators overseas, working in Kuwait, Bahrain, Bulgaria and Bolivia. She then retired and devoted her time to her grandchildren where you could see her at numerous sporting events. Birgitta was predeceased by her parents. Surviving in addition to her husband of 47 years, William Updyke Cattelle, are her daughters Kristina Dumond and her husband Michael of Old Town; Amy Nutter and her husband Gordon of Holden; her son Erik Cattelle of Tampa, Florida; grandchildren, Jacob Munroe, Andrew Munroe, James Dumond, Karina Dumond, Kaleb Nutter; one sister Berit Staffas and her husband Lars Erik of Molnlycke, Sweden; One brother Ralph Rystrand and his wife Marianne of Olofstorp, Sweden; and many loving nieces, nephews and in-laws. Birgitta requested to not have formal services, only a gathering. Relatives and friends are welcome to a celebration of life on Thursday, April 18 5:30-7:30 at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St. Bangor. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to
The Mary Dow Center at Maine Coast Hospital, P.O. Box 796, Ellsworth, ME. 04605 or the Lafayette Family Cancer Institute, c/o Northern Light Healthcare Foundation. P.O. Box 931. Bangor, ME. 04402-0931
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.