Obituary of Herbert L. Harnden

Herbert L. Harnden, Sr. passed away on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Harbor Hill in Belfast with his loving family by his side. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Betty LaValley) Harnden and recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. Born in North Andover, Massachusetts on April 22, 1926, he was the son of the late Herbert W. and Mabel (Leland) Harnden. Herb was raised and educated in Norton, Massachusetts where he resided for nearly 60 years until moving to Maine in 1988. Herb worked for Welsh’s Dairy in Foxboro, Massachusetts for many years and was a retiree of the Norton School Department. After retirement, he worked part-time for Duck Trap River Fish Farm in Belfast until his illness in 2003. While living in Norton, Herb and his wife were foster parents and provided a loving home for many children under the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Herb was also an avid gardener and enjoyed farming all his life while living in both Massachusetts and Maine. He was predeceased by two sisters, Mabel Kiltyka and Hazel Chastenay; and a brother, James Harnden. Surviving in addition to his wife are his four children: Cindy Harnden, Herbert Harnden, Jr. and his wife Kathy, William Harnden and his wife Debi, all of Waldo; and Shirley Letourneau and her husband Robert of Foxboro, Massachusetts. Herb is also survived by his seven grandchildren: Ryan Harnden and his wife Mallory of Waldo; Kelly Hawthorne and her husband Kyle of Swanville; Jessica and Joshua Harnden of Waldo; Sara and Gregory Letourneau of Foxboro, Massachusetts; and Christopher Albert and his wife Jenny, who reside in Belfast. Great-grandchildren include McKenzie Albert of Belfast and another great-grandchild expected in January. Herb is also survived by his dear sister-in-law Sandra Jordan of Waldo, and his good friends Alice and Bob Albert of Tamarac, Florida, Irene and Dick Dresser of Taunton, Massachusetts and Judy Pelletier of Attleboro, Massachusetts. He also has many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of Isabel Bennett of Plainville, Massachusetts and Newell Harnden of Rochester, Massachusetts. Arrangements are under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, Belfast. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Herb’s memory can be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004 or to Maine Farmland Trust, 97 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915. On-line condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com.