CUNDY’S HARBOR — Patricia J. Watkins, 66, died May 9.

Watkins was born Sept. 17, 1948, to Eugenia and Joseph Cussano in Yonkers, New York. She attended parochial and public schools in Yonkers and Pleasantville, New York, graduating from Pleasantville High School in 1966.

In 1971, she earned her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority, the swim team and the varsity cheerleading squad. Watkins went on to serve as a language teacher at high schools in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Massachusetts and South Carolina.

After she stopped teaching full-time, Watkins returned permanently to Maine and became a flight attendant with American Airlines. Still, when her schedule permitted, she continued work as a substitute teacher at Brunswick and Mt. Ararat high schools and as an aerobics instructor for Maine Pines. Watkins retired from American in 2011, but continued her teaching.

During the summers, she volunteered as an usher for Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. She also enjoyed skiing, boating, bicycling, tennis, hiking and a glass of good pinot noir at the end of the day.

Although never a smoker, Watkins was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2013, and fought the disease heroically until her death.

Watkins is survived by her husband and high-school classmate, John; her son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Kristy, of Weston, Massachusetts; granddaughters Sofia and Lucia; grandson Jonah; her brother, Kevin, of San Diego; and her mother-in-law, Alice, of Brunswick.

A celebration of Watkins’ life will be held at a date to be determined.

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to CHANS, 60 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011.

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