Theresa Howell died on May 9, 2025, in Brunswick, Maine.
(The following was provided by the Times Record on May 23, 2025:)
BRUNSWICK – It is with sadness that we share with you that Theresa “Terry” Howell died on May 9, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She was welcomed into the world by her loving parents, Rosario and Cecile Philippon, on October 27, 1941, in Brunswick.
Though an only child, she was raised in a large extended French-Canadian family where she was never at a loss for someone to play with. She loved to share that French was her first language, and she grew up learning all the traditions and foods of her heritage.
She graduated from St. John’s School in 1956 and from Brunswick High School in 1960. During high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-Hi-Y Club. She then graduated from Burdett Junior College in Boston in 1962, where she studied to be a paralegal. Upon graduation, she worked from 1962 to 1967 for attorney Fanueil Adams, the senior partner at Hill & Barlow, a large law firm in downtown Boston. In 1967, she returned to Maine where she worked for the director of public relations at Maine Medical Center and also for Arthur Monke, the librarian at Bowdoin College.
In 1968, she met the love of her life, newly commission Air Force 2nd Lt. Jimmie (James) Howell. After a whirlwind romance, they were married in April of 1969. His next assignment brought them to Duluth, MN, where it’s often said that “there’s nine months of winter and three months of poor sledding.” When her husband was assigned to an unaccompanied overseas tour in late 1970, she returned to Maine, where she worked for Prof. William Whiteside, the director of the Senior Center at Bowdoin College. Upon her husband’s return, they were assigned to an Air Force Facility in Sunnyvale, CA. During their seven-year tour in California, Terry worked for both Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce as well as the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce. Her last California employment was as Office Manager of the Civil Engineering Firm of Mackay and Somps in San Jose, CA.
In 1978, their dream of having a child finally happened when their son, Sean Christopher, was born, and in 1979, they returned to Brunswick and settled on Belmont Street. Thoroughly enjoying being a mom, Terry was able to stay home until Sean was in junior high. Though busy with a variety of activities, Terry continued pursuing her dream of earning her bachelor’s degree. Finally, after several years of night school at Southern New Hampshire University, she finished her bachelor’s degree in business management in December of 1997 at the age of 57. In addition to attending classes at night, Terry worked as co-director of Merrymeeting Aids Support Services from 1993 to 1997. In April of 1998, Terry was hired as development director of the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and was named executive director in 1999. During her tenure at Mid Coast Hunger, she also served on the Basic Needs Council of the United Way of Mid Coast Maine. She retired from that position in December 2007.
During their life together, Terry and James traveled throughout the Western United States and Western Canada, and after their retirements, traveled extensively throughout Europe, Turkey, Mexico, as well as trips up and down the east coast and all of eastern Canada. When at home, Terry loved to read, knit, work on jigsaw puzzles, cook, and especially loved spending time with family and friends. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and served the church in various capacities.
She is survived by her husband of fifty-six years; her son, Sean, and his wife, Meghan, of Amherst, NH. She is also survived by her stepdaughters Janice Adams of Aztec, NM, and Sherrie Padilla and her husband, Pete, of Amarillo, Texas. Also surviving are her two grandchildren, William and Georgianna Howell of Amherst, NH, Cassie Mason and her husband, Lucas, and Gwyn Adams, both of Aztec, NM, and Zachary Griffith and his wife, Laura, of Atlanta, GA, and Seth Padilla of Amarillo, TX; and her great-grandson, Watson Adams of Aztec, NM, and great-granddaughter, Maizie Griffith of Atlanta, GA.