WINDHAM- Holly Ann Mason (Trefethen), age 63, passed away on June 8, 2018, just three months after a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic cancer. Holly passed in the comfort of her daughter’s home while peacefully holding on to her children’s hands, with several family and friends outside chatting on the patio in the evening sun.
She was born in Portland, Maine on February 3, 1955; a daughter of Helen and the late Gerald Trefethen.
After graduating from Deering High School in 1973, Holly went on to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts for Architecture, graduating in 1975. Holly was an extremely talented and well respected drafter and designer, who worked at E.C. Jordan and SMRT Architects in Portland, ME; then moved to Arizona with her friend Sharon, where she worked with Jim Walter Homes. When she moved back to Maine, and her children were of school age, she started her own drafting and design business out of her homes in New Gloucester and Gray. Many local architects including Fred Hahn, would contact her for free lance work due to the quality of her architecture. She worked with various local clients, including rehabilitating several buildings for Pineland Center in New Gloucester.
Holly gave birth to her daughter, Caitlin, in May of 1986, and courageously raised her on her own, until she fell in love and married Dave Mason in March of 1988. Dave Mason adopted Caitlin, they were blessed with their son, Eric, in June of 1989, and they bought a house on Torrey street in Portland, Maine which was known for its brick driveway Dave built, and Holly’s beautiful gardens out front that people would drive from afar to admire. Holly was very proud in 1994 to be able to design and oversee the building of her dream house in New Gloucester, Maine, where she raised her children and hosted many neighborhood parties, including a spontaneous blizzard party everyone happily traipsed through the snow to enjoy.
In May of 2001, Holly and Dave were divorced. After the housing market crash, Holly worked for Hammond Lumber designing kitchens, her high school friend’s restaurant, Docks Seafood, as a cashier, and of most recent, her favorite place of employment by far, as a cashier at Rosemont Market in Portland, Maine. Holly got great joy from some of her beloved customers and co-workers at Rosemont, and enjoyed telling everyone that she had worked there when she was 15 years old, and now again in her 60s!
Holly’s positive spirit and good natured soul was contagious. Her humble nature only added to her wonderful person. Her loyalty and love for her family and friends was uncanny. Many would describe her as being strong, beautiful, wise, funny, down to earth and loving. Her compassion and acceptance for other human beings and creatures of nature was an absolute gift.
Some of her favorite things in life included a good cup of coffee, listening to music, scenic drives, chasing the sunset, gardening and nature, going up to camp in New Sharon, The North Atlantic Blues festivals in Rockland, snuggling with her many golden retrievers over the years, and she whole-heartedly cherished gatherings with friends and family. She was a hard working woman who embraced life and always stayed positive even in the toughest of times. We will always remember her abundance of creativity, insight, and kindness!
Holly was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, mother, mam-maw, friend, community member, and a very special person to so many who’s lives she touched.
She is predeceased by her father- Gerald Trefethen, who passed away in 2015.
She is survived by her mother, Helen Trefethen of Westbrook; her children- Caitlin Coppenrath and her husband Drew Coppenrath of Windham, and Eric Mason and his wife Alicia Mason of Gray; her sisters Cathy Crane and her husband Dave Crane of Yarmouth, and Cynthia Trefethen of Portland; her brother Jerry Trefethen and his wife Dina Trefethen of New Gloucester; her nephews Ryan, Andrew and Brent Crane and their wives, Tracy, Taryn and Jackie Crane; her niece Kelsea Trefethen; her four great nieces and nephews, Hayden, Landon, Caleb and Elias; her three grandsons who captured her heart, Colby and Ryan Mason and Parker Coppenrath; her special lifelong friends, Sharon Watson, Anne Mahar, Rose and Jim Fitch, and her significant other, Brian Lovering.
Holly and her family would like to remind all, not only to live life to the fullest for today, not tomorrow, but to listen to your body, get regular screenings, and continue to be a self advocate in the healthcare system.
A celebration of Holly’s beautiful life is planned for Saturday, July 14th, 2018 at 3:00pm under the tent at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, a place held very dear to Holly and her family. The event will be open to any and all who would like to honor her energetic soul.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service website, www.mainefuneral.com
Holly’s time was cut too short to fulfill her wish of volunteering and giving back to others at the Cancer Community Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Holly’s name to the Cancer Community Center of South Portland, 778 Main St, South Portland, ME 04106.