CORINTH - Nicole Michelle Fortin Buswell, 51, a beautiful loving wife, mother, and friend passed away Monday, May 8, 2023. She was born January 27, 1972 in Rockville, Connecticut, to Marlene (Brown) Fortin and Robert Fortin.
As a young child, Nicole with their parents moved to Newport, Maine. She attended Corinna Elementary School. She grew up playing with her beloved cousins, Denise Ludden Savage, of Newport and Kola Brown, of St. Albans as well as family friend, Garett McKee, of Dixmont. Nicole moved to Stetson, Maine in 1985, during her 7th grade year of school, she graduated from Central High School in Corinth Class of 1990.
At Central, she met the love of her life, Kenneth Eric Buswell. They married on August 15, 1992, eventually making their home in Corinth. Eric and Nicole renewed their wedding vows in an intimate setting in Hawaii on May 11, 2017, while on vacation with her work bestie Jackie Dinsmore Ford and husband Leonard H. Ford.
All who knew Nicole, knew her greatest love and joy in life were her incredible two daughters. She and Eric welcomed Kailey Michelle on November 11, 1996, and Taylor Nicole on November 13, 1997. During her daughters' school age years, many of their friends would gather at the Buswell home which brought her so much happiness. Nicole became a second mom to Izzy Wittine Underhill and Katrina Bowden. What a joy it was for her to see her daughters excel in cheerleading during their high school years, as well as winning a state championship title in 2014. She was their biggest fan, never missing a chance to see them perform at a competition or a game. Her daughters are true examples of all the good and intentionality that Nicole instilled in them as their mother. She wanted nothing but to see them happy in life.
Nicole was a devoted aunt to Jordan and Sierra. She was a wonderful Auntie Cole to Tisha and Janalee. She loved them all with all her heart. She enjoyed all of her great nieces and great nephews.
Nicole was a fierce, loyal, and loving soul. She touched many lives with her kindness, her no nonsense attitude, her determination, and strength. She loved to laugh and gave the best hugs. She was never afraid to say I love you or tell you the brutal and honest truth. She was always there to support her friends, at any time night or day.
Throughout her life she enjoyed many activities including riding her motorcycle, downhill skiing, traveling, sunbathing, driving her cars, getting tattoos, reading, and going to Kenny Chesney concerts. Nicole was a daredevil, she had so much fun bungee jumping, going on extreme rides, and skydiving. Music was very special in Nicole's life. She felt music and lyrics deeply and it helped her through many times in her life, good and bad. Nicole loved animals and was a fantastic pet parent. She experienced the loss of her dogs Brooke and Miley. She's survived by her cats Smudge and Bean and was a great Nini to her grand-dog Kane.
Nicole was a talented carpenter. She did many projects over the years, including installing a fire pit, building a pool deck, and constructing a front porch all on her own. She kept a beautiful home and hosted an annual Christmas party of which will provide many memories to laugh about. Her lasagna, famous meatballs, and apple pie will be missed by many. Nicole’s happy place was Key West Florida. It brought her peace. She visited many times alone, with Eric, and with friends. She experienced a wonderful girls-trip to Key West with her two daughters in July 2022. She loved the sun and being warm. Many fond memories were made with friends by a pool or at the beach.
Nicole made many friends in the Bangor/Corinth community and throughout her professional career. She was strong and independent but made friends easily. Special dear friends were made at The Sea Dog and at Miguel's. Nicole was a hard worker. Some of her jobs were at Barco in Corinth, University Credit Union in Bangor, and Community Health and Counseling Services in Bangor. She also worked in the mortgage industry for a short time and was a successful self-employed bookkeeper creating many clients who became friends. Nicole leaves behind her work family at Downeast Surgery. Nicole took her work seriously and was proud of her accomplishments.
In 2020, Nicole, with grace and dignity, faced a battle with breast cancer head on. She received treatment in Boston and was a fierce advocate for herself and others. It was very important to her that women speak up and demand the best course of action and treatment for themselves. She bravely used her experiences to help others, always trying to stay as positive as she could throughout recovery. Even before her diagnosis, Nicole raced for many years in the Dempsey Challenge.
Nicole is survived by her life partner and loving husband, Eric Buswell, of Corinth; her two daughters who were her pride and joy, Kailey Buswell and Kaleb Smith, of Dover, Taylor McIntyre and loved as her own, son-in-law, Brett McIntyre, of Kenduskeag; her in-laws, Sonny and Donetta Buswell; sister-in-law, Ronell Buswell and husband Steve Nicholas; nieces, Janalee and Tisha; her aunt Carole Ludden; cousins, Denise Ludden Savage, Kola Brown, Audrey Brown, and Erik Brown. She had a special bond with her sister in love, Cynthia Smith, of Dixmont; nieces, Jordan Spaulding and Sierra Fortin, as well as Deborah and Rodney Cole of Stetson. She was predeceased by her mother, Marlene Webber; and uncle, Everette Brown.
Nicole will especially be missed by her long-time best friend Debbie Savage Macaulay, her best friend Amber Lingley, and her best friend and Brett's mom Liza Crocker. She leaves behind so many other extended family, “adopted” kids, and friends that each held a special place in her heart, you all know who you are.
"Nature's first green is gold
her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
but only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
so dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
If you are someone who finds comfort in music or lyrics, here were some of Nicole’s favorite songs.
Raise your glass - P!nk
Best Day - Taylor Swift (her and Taylor’s song) Someone to Fix - Kenny Chesney
Per Nicole’s request, services will be private. A Celebration of Nicole’s Life will be at a date and time to be announced, during the summer, in the sunshine like Nicole would’ve wanted.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Nicole Buswell, please visit our flower store.
As a young child, Nicole with their parents moved to Newport, Maine. She attended Corinna Elementary School. She grew up playing with her beloved cousins, Denise Ludden Savage, of Newport and Kola Brown, of St. Albans as well as family friend, Garett McKee, of Dixmont. Nicole moved to Stetson, Maine in 1985, during her 7th grade year of school, she graduated from Central High School in Corinth Class of 1990.
At Central, she met the love of her life, Kenneth Eric Buswell. They married on August 15, 1992, eventually making their home in Corinth. Eric and Nicole renewed their wedding vows in an intimate setting in Hawaii on May 11, 2017, while on vacation with her work bestie Jackie Dinsmore Ford and husband Leonard H. Ford.
All who knew Nicole, knew her greatest love and joy in life were her incredible two daughters. She and Eric welcomed Kailey Michelle on November 11, 1996, and Taylor Nicole on November 13, 1997. During her daughters' school age years, many of their friends would gather at the Buswell home which brought her so much happiness. Nicole became a second mom to Izzy Wittine Underhill and Katrina Bowden. What a joy it was for her to see her daughters excel in cheerleading during their high school years, as well as winning a state championship title in 2014. She was their biggest fan, never missing a chance to see them perform at a competition or a game. Her daughters are true examples of all the good and intentionality that Nicole instilled in them as their mother. She wanted nothing but to see them happy in life.
Nicole was a devoted aunt to Jordan and Sierra. She was a wonderful Auntie Cole to Tisha and Janalee. She loved them all with all her heart. She enjoyed all of her great nieces and great nephews.
Nicole was a fierce, loyal, and loving soul. She touched many lives with her kindness, her no nonsense attitude, her determination, and strength. She loved to laugh and gave the best hugs. She was never afraid to say I love you or tell you the brutal and honest truth. She was always there to support her friends, at any time night or day.
Throughout her life she enjoyed many activities including riding her motorcycle, downhill skiing, traveling, sunbathing, driving her cars, getting tattoos, reading, and going to Kenny Chesney concerts. Nicole was a daredevil, she had so much fun bungee jumping, going on extreme rides, and skydiving. Music was very special in Nicole's life. She felt music and lyrics deeply and it helped her through many times in her life, good and bad. Nicole loved animals and was a fantastic pet parent. She experienced the loss of her dogs Brooke and Miley. She's survived by her cats Smudge and Bean and was a great Nini to her grand-dog Kane.
Nicole was a talented carpenter. She did many projects over the years, including installing a fire pit, building a pool deck, and constructing a front porch all on her own. She kept a beautiful home and hosted an annual Christmas party of which will provide many memories to laugh about. Her lasagna, famous meatballs, and apple pie will be missed by many. Nicole’s happy place was Key West Florida. It brought her peace. She visited many times alone, with Eric, and with friends. She experienced a wonderful girls-trip to Key West with her two daughters in July 2022. She loved the sun and being warm. Many fond memories were made with friends by a pool or at the beach.
Nicole made many friends in the Bangor/Corinth community and throughout her professional career. She was strong and independent but made friends easily. Special dear friends were made at The Sea Dog and at Miguel's. Nicole was a hard worker. Some of her jobs were at Barco in Corinth, University Credit Union in Bangor, and Community Health and Counseling Services in Bangor. She also worked in the mortgage industry for a short time and was a successful self-employed bookkeeper creating many clients who became friends. Nicole leaves behind her work family at Downeast Surgery. Nicole took her work seriously and was proud of her accomplishments.
In 2020, Nicole, with grace and dignity, faced a battle with breast cancer head on. She received treatment in Boston and was a fierce advocate for herself and others. It was very important to her that women speak up and demand the best course of action and treatment for themselves. She bravely used her experiences to help others, always trying to stay as positive as she could throughout recovery. Even before her diagnosis, Nicole raced for many years in the Dempsey Challenge.
Nicole is survived by her life partner and loving husband, Eric Buswell, of Corinth; her two daughters who were her pride and joy, Kailey Buswell and Kaleb Smith, of Dover, Taylor McIntyre and loved as her own, son-in-law, Brett McIntyre, of Kenduskeag; her in-laws, Sonny and Donetta Buswell; sister-in-law, Ronell Buswell and husband Steve Nicholas; nieces, Janalee and Tisha; her aunt Carole Ludden; cousins, Denise Ludden Savage, Kola Brown, Audrey Brown, and Erik Brown. She had a special bond with her sister in love, Cynthia Smith, of Dixmont; nieces, Jordan Spaulding and Sierra Fortin, as well as Deborah and Rodney Cole of Stetson. She was predeceased by her mother, Marlene Webber; and uncle, Everette Brown.
Nicole will especially be missed by her long-time best friend Debbie Savage Macaulay, her best friend Amber Lingley, and her best friend and Brett's mom Liza Crocker. She leaves behind so many other extended family, “adopted” kids, and friends that each held a special place in her heart, you all know who you are.
"Nature's first green is gold
her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
but only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
so dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
If you are someone who finds comfort in music or lyrics, here were some of Nicole’s favorite songs.
Raise your glass - P!nk
Best Day - Taylor Swift (her and Taylor’s song) Someone to Fix - Kenny Chesney
Per Nicole’s request, services will be private. A Celebration of Nicole’s Life will be at a date and time to be announced, during the summer, in the sunshine like Nicole would’ve wanted.
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