Obituary of Jeannette Marie (Beckwith) Morrill
Old Orchard Beach and Greenville - Jeannette Marie (Beckwith) Morrill, 70, passed away March 11,2023, at Maine Medical Center, Portland. She was born August 4, 1952, in Farmington, the daughter of Bernard E. and Janet M. (Carignan) Beckwith. Jeannette graduated from Greenville High School in 1970. She received her B.S. degree, majoring in Health and Physical Education from the University of Maine Presque Isle in1974. While a student at UMPI Jeannette excelled in volleyball, basketball, and softball, but most importantly cherished athletics as it afforded her the opportunity to travel and form new and close friendships with her teammates.
Following college Jeannette fulfilled her childhood dream of teaching and coaching starting at Georges Valley. At age 23, Jeannette was diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PHA)and was given a 2-4 year life expectancy, which shortened her teaching career. Jeannette and her doctors battled the disease and Jeannette was able to return to teaching and in Greenville, along with starting the Girl Scout troop, volunteering as an EMT for C.A. Dean Hospital, and serving on the local ski patrol. After a few additional teaching years, she needed to medically retire. At this point she became a tireless advocate for spreading awareness of pulmonary hypertension by leading several Maine patient support groups, traveling the United States speaking at conferences and representing the PH community by speaking at congressional hearings on funding for orphan (rare) diseases. She received the Outstanding PH Citizen Award at the 2012 International Hypertension Association conference in Florida and was the keynote speaker in 2014, with attendance of well over one thousand patients, caregivers, and medical professionals from around the world. In Maine, she founded UPHill Journeys a not-for-profit program supporting the Maine and New Hampshire PH community.
In 2016, Jeannette was inducted in the University of Maine Presque Isle Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jeannette leaves behind her husband, David, and her sons, Ian and Brian, Brian’s wife, Vivi Tjhang and her adored grandson, Kai, her “joy”. She also leaves behind her sister, Carol and her husband, Bruce McBrierty; a brother, Norman Beckwith and his wife, Geneva; sisters-in-law, Pam Beckwith and Maggie Devlin; and “almost sister”, Kathy Stafford and her husband, Jeff. She was predeceased by two brothers, Wayne and Nester. She also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins. On the first tee, she leaves behind many special golfing friends from Squaw, Dunegrass, and Piscataquis C.C.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Maine Medical Center’s UPHill Journey Fund, either online at https://fundraising.mmc.org/special-project-donate-now , under designation, use the drop-down and select UPHill Journeys or by check addressed to “Maine Medical Center, Uphill Journey Fund”, mailed to Maine Medical Center, Attn: John Curran, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11am Friday, June 9, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 145 Pritham Avenue, Greenville. Burial will be at the Greenville Cemetery and a gathering following the services will be held at Bartley Family’s Event Center, 241 Pritham Avenue, Greenville. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
Friday
9
June
Mass of Christian Burial
11:00 am
Friday, June 9, 2023
Holy Family Catholic Church
145 Pritham Ave.
Greenville, Maine, United States
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Friday
9
June
Celebration of Jeannette's Life
12:30 pm
Friday, June 9, 2023
Bartley Family's Event Center
241 Pritham Ave.
Greenville, Maine, United States
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