Beloved mother and grandmother, Irma was born on November 16, 1917, in Starks, ME, the youngest of four children born to Roy and Ida Caldwell. She attended schools in Starks and Madison.
She married Donald Wayne Newell and they lived in Connecticut and Maine, settling in Auburn in 1953 where they raised their two sons. After Don passed away in 1958, Irma met and married Howard ( Russ) Russell in 1964.
Irma and Russ resided in Auburn where Irma worked as a waitress and later as a dental assistant. Russ worked in sales for Wise Potato Chips, and in 1974 they were transferred to Terre Haute, IN, then later to Marion, OH, and Schaumburg, IL. They returned to New England in 1979 and settled in Plymouth, MA, where they managed a small motel.
In her retirement years, she enjoyed working in Resident Services for the Sheraton hotel in Plymouth. A few years after Russ passed away in 1997, Irma moved to Topsham to be closer to her family where she has lived at The Highlands since 2002.
As young girl, Irma and her family were active in The Grange in Starks where she gained a love for dancing. She grew up on a small family farm and had a life-long love for animals.
While living at The Highlands, she would walk next door to the Topsham Fairgrounds during the week of the Fair and watch the draft horses and steers as they were being groomed and enjoyed talking with their owners over the fence.
She also had a special love for her cat, Angie, who lived with her for 17 years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, dancing, reading, and watching the Red Sox on television.
Irma is predeceased by her first husband, Donald Newell, her second husband, Howard Russell, a son Barry Newell, a sister, Minerva (Caldwell) Buzzell, and two brothers, Weldon Caldwell and Everett Caldwell. Survivors include a son, Jeffrey Newell, and his wife, JoAnn, of Durham; daughterin law, Alma Newell, of Gorham; grandchildren, Donna Hodge of Portland, Evan Newell and his fiancé, Krista Lewandowski, of Philadelphia, PA, and Allison Huppé, of Winchester, MA; one great grandchild, Ava Huppé; a sister-in-law, Doris Caldwell of Anson, and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
An hour of visitation will be held from 10-11 AM on Friday, January 27, 2012 at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick immediately followed by a memorial service at 11:00 Am at the funeral home with Reverend Ronald Parker officiating. A special reception for Irma’s friends at the Highlands will be held Friday, February 3rd at 3:30 pm in the living room of the Main Lodge.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Irma may be made to: The Highlands Resident Assistance Fund, 30 Governors Way, Topsham, ME 04086 or Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, ME 04011.
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