Person:Hildreth Wardwell (1)

Hildreth "Hilly" M. Spurling, 83, died Feb. 10, 2002, at an Ellsworth health-care facility. She was born in Brooklin, Feb. 23, 1918, the daughter of Samuel and Gertrude (Jordan) Wardwell. Hilly grew up in Brooklin and as a teenager she would visit her sister, Effie on Cranberry Island to spend time with her very special friend and niece, the late Maxine Goodwin. This is where she met Emerson "Tommy" Spurling, whom she loved very much and was married to for nearly 45 years until his death on Oct. 3, 1980. Family was very important to Hilly, she would do anything she could for anyone, particularly those she loved. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. It seemed as though she could make anyone smile. She was very caring, a great storyteller, and really enjoyed watching her three children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, grow and learn. Hilly always kept herself busy. She was a hard worker and had many jobs from managing her household to helping her husband lobster fish to being one of the first people hired for a new business proposition by C.H. Rich, picking out crabmeat to sell. She also worked at Addison Packing Company back in the 1950s and in her late years, she would clean cottages for many summer residents of Southwest Harbor. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening and baking. She especially liked to bake for those she loved, including homemade breads, cookies and doughnuts. She really enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was walking, blueberry picking or just watching the weather change as the squirrels ran and played in the trees outside her window. She loved all animals and got a kick out of her many pets throughout her lifetime. She could always tell a story, remembering dogs or cats or squirrels she befriended along the way. Hilly was also a member of the Bar Harbor Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses. Hilly is survived by one daughter, Rachel Garver and two sons, Alan Spurling and Emerson "Tucker" Spurling and his wife, Bette, all of Manset. Hilly left behind five grandchildren and their spouses who loved her very much, Dwayne Garver of Trenton, Pamela Habek of San Francisco, Calif., Denise Strout of Manset, Jody Andrews of South Portland and Wendy Spurling of Falmouth; as well as six great-grandchildren, Jamie, Justin, Melanie, Mollie, Kameron and Bryce. She also loved her many nieces and nephews, including Linda Friend of Brooklin. In addition to her husband and niece, Hilly was predeceased by five siblings, Effie Rice, Samual Wardwell, Harry "Shep" Wardwell, John Wardwell; and a very special sister, Rachel Anderson, as well as her son-in-law, Duard "Bill" Garver. Contributions in Hilly's memory may be donated to the Southwest Harbor SPCA or Southwest Harbor/Tremont Ambulance Service. There will be a graveside memorial service held in the spring at Mount Height Cemetery, Southwest Harbor. Arrangements by Fernald Funeral Chapel, Mt. Desert. -Bangor Daily News 12 Feburary 2002

1. ↑ Bangor Daily News 12 February 2002.
2. ↑ Bangor Daily News 12 February 2002.