C. Audrey G. Chase

EDGECOMB — C. Audrey Giles Chase, 95, of Cross Point Road died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, at Safe Havens, Saint Andrew's Village in Boothbay Harbor.

She celebrated her 95th birthday on June 3. That day was marked by the presence of family and friends who gathered to celebrate and remember how she had touched their lives.

She was born on June 3, 1914, in Boothbay Harbor, a daughter of Benjamin M. and Nettie (Rowe) Giles. She was the fifth child born into a family of 12 children.

All of her schooling took place in Boothbay Harbor schools. Several years ago she celebrated her 75th Boothbay Harbor High School reunion. During summers she would work on Squirrel Island and often at Patten's Restaurant, then located at the end of the foot bridge in Boothbay Harbor.

Family members said that because she was such an intelligent woman, there were people who would have paid for her to go on to college. Instead, she chose to seek adventure by moving, with another family, to New Jersey. She became an "au pair."

On April 8, 1939, she married John Chase of North Edgecomb. They would begin their life together in the log cabin that he had built for them.

Her love of people, adventure, nature and travel led her to encounter many people. For years she drove to Brunswick to swim with her sister, Iva, and the Evergreens' Senior Citizen Group. For the 70 years that she lived in Edgecomb, she was a participant in community and church activities. She was a faithful member of the Edgecomb Congregational Church United Church of Christ.

Survivors include a daughter, the Rev. Constance Chase Wells of Damariscotta; a brother, Benjamin Giles of China; two sisters, Betty Giles Richardson of West Bath, and Pat Giles Adams and her husband, Robert of Boothbay Harbor; a brother-in-law, Merle Hathorne of York; nine grandchildren, Alan John Wells, Jeffrey Wells and his wife, Allison, Susan Winkler and her husband, David, Tim Wells and his wife, Kristin, Andrew Roth Wells and his wife, Nina, Jonathan Chase, Tom Chase, Jennifer Chase, and George Chase and his wife, Sofia; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Chase; one son, Daniel E. Chase; four brothers, Lermond Giles, Drummond Giles, Bobby Giles and Harold Giles; and four sisters, Leta Giles Conners, Lavinia Giles Conners, Iva Giles Koerber and Peggy Giles Hathorne; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Edgecomb Congregational Church, UCC, with the Rev. Tom Clough officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Edgecomb Congregational Church, UCC, P.O. Box 113, Edgecomb, ME 04556.

Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 40 Federal St., Wiscasset.