BIDDEFORD — Catharine Ayer Curtis, 79, died July 12 at Southern Maine Medical Center from an aortic aneurysm.

She was born and grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, and then attended the University of Maine, Orono. Catharine graduated with a BA in Sociology in 1960, and began work in the field of child welfare.

She married Philip B. Curtis on Nov. 26, 1960 and had been married for 56 years. They lived in Saco, Maine for over 30 years before retiring to the Biddeford Pool area in the early 1990s.

Catharine was a full-time mother for much of the 60s and 70s, enjoying creative play with her daughters while also refusing to take herself too seriously or be cast in the image of the “perfect housewife.” She also worked as an Adult Education Coordinator, as a bank teller, and for 11 years as an Executive Assistant and Administrator for Marketing and Coordinating Services at the Wardwell Home in Saco, Maine. She volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader, and was very active in First Parish Congregational Church in Saco as a choir member, and on numerous committees including the Diaconate, Building and Design, Pastor Relations, and Music Committees.

Catharine was passionate about family, friendships, nature, music, social justice, and spirituality. She loved hosting and cooking, flower arranging, the ocean, meals on the porch, walking her dogs, tennis, biking, and yoga. She looked for the humor in nearly every situation. She stood up for the underdog and made her support for marginalized people known. One of her greatest lifetime achievements was her effective testimonial as a parent on behalf of gay marriage to the Maine State Legislature. She loved reading and her book group, spiritual exploration and pondering the mysteries of life to discover the “pearls.” Most of all she loved her husband Phil, her daughters, grandchildren and her sisters, Cynthia and Nancy.

Catharine was preceded in death by: her granddaughter, Amanda Kay McMullen, and survived by: her beloved husband, Philip Curtis, three daughters, Deborah Curtis, Jen Bartlett, and Catie Curtis Marshall, six grandchildren, Alex Notis, Ted Notis, Lydia McMullen, Eliza Bartlett, Lucy Curtis Marshall and MJ Curtis Marshall, two sisters, Nancy Cunningham and Cynthia Hickey, and 12 nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 20 at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, 87 James St., Saco. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 21 at First Parish Congregational Church, 12 Beach St., Saco.

Memorial donations can be made in Catharine’s name to the First Parish Congregational Church (12 Beach St., Saco ME) or to the Wardwell Retirement Community (43 Middle St., Saco ME).

To view Catharine’s memorial page, please visit cotefuneralhome.com