Charlene "Tina" Buzzell
EAST BALDWIN- Tina’s life began as the 5th of 6 children born to Elsie Dubay and Roger Withey in New Sharon, Maine. The large family moved to southern Maine where they lived on farms between Parsonsfield and Porter. Her family can only assume that it was in these early years that Tina started developing her knack for jokes and story telling. Tina loved to elicit a good laugh from a crowd and these times with her siblings must have been the start.
As Tina grew she attended public schools and became embedded in the community where she would meet and marry her husband and start her family. Tina and Glendon Buzzell Sr. married in February of 1956 and had 4 beautiful children; Glendon Jr. “Butch”, Jeffrey, Scott and Nancy. Tina and Glen settled in Baldwin, Maine where Tina remained until 1999. In that time her children grew and had families of their own. The time was the welcoming of her 9 grandchildren Corey, Heath, Darcy, Jennifer, Hilary, David, Brian, Mellissa and Chelsea. She absolutely adored her time with her grandchildren. Tina worked the majority of her adult life for National Semi-Conductor, a position that she truly enjoyed over the years. She carried many friendships through her life that began at her work.
When Tina retired she sold her home that she had lived in since her children were little and headed for the sunny south. She had a brother and sister living in Florida and that turned out to be the place for her as well. She started in Vero Beach and eventually settled in Dade City. Being in Florida was everything that Tina was looking for. She was an avid member of the Zephyrhills Elks Lodge and spent her free time volunteering for the veterans.
She will be fondly remembered by her sister Charlotte Kent, brother Erland Withey and wife Francis, and sister Diana St. Hilaire and husband Joe. Her children Glendon “Butch” Buzzell Jr. and wife Brenda, Nancy Lalancette and partner Billy Jackson and Scott Buzzell and wife Louise. Her grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive her. Her son Jeffrey and brothers Everett, Royce, and Rollis preceased her.
Before her passing, Tina had returned home to Maine to close out her life surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
All of these facts don’t actually describe the woman that her family has lost. Leading up to, and since her passing so many stories have been shared of her life. The places she would travel from weeks at the Fryeburg Fair, to taking her 6 grandchildren by herself on vacations, hotel getaways just to get out of the house. There were endless stories that you found unbelievable until some random stranger inadvertently corroborates the details that you had heard years prior. All in all, this woman was fearless in her pursuit of life. She rarely took the path most traveled, and seemed to revel in the idea that others would scoff at her choices. She was someone whose stubborn nature always had her marching to the beat of her own drum. These qualities are characteristics that we hope future generation finds even if only in pieces.
There will be no services per Tina’s request.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com
Memorial donations in memory of Tina can be made to Maine Veterans Project 45 Columbia Street, Bangor ME 04401 or at www.maineveteransproject.org .
There will be a spring burial in North Baldwin.