She was the loving wife of Herbert C. Decato Sr., who preceded her in death on June 10, 2005. They shared 60 years of wonderful marriage together.
Born Oct. 19, 1927, in New Vineyard, she was the daughter of William Franklin Litchfield and Bernice M. Hart. She grew up on the family farm in Ogunquit and Wells, and attended Wells High School, where she starred on the 1944 Wells High Girls Basketball State championship team.
After her marriage in 1946, she moved to Westford, Massachusetts, where she raised her family and worked as a dental assistant and dental office manager before relocating to Wells. There, she and her husband were proprietors of Ocean Overlook Motel and Cottages.
She enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
She loved sports, especially the Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots. She was a true pet lover of both dogs and her wonderful rescue cat, Bailey. She also enjoyed playing bridge, and was an avid bird watcher.
Berle was a nine-year resident of Huntington Commons in Kennebunk, where she had many friends, and, for the last two years, at Durgin Pines in Kittery.
The youngest of 15 children, she was preceded in death by her four sisters and 10 brothers.
She is survived by: her children, Cheryl J. Sheehan and husband Gary, Herbert C. Decato Jr. and wife Joan, and Nancy B. Decato and husband Jeff Rosenkrans; grandchildren Autumn Poulin, Ashley Sheehan, Nicole DiMarco and Reed Decato; and eight grandchildren.
Private family funeral services and internment will be at Ocean View Cemetery on Friday, July 22. A celebration of life reception for family and friends will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 22, at Town Club, 4 Washington St., Sanford.
The family requests contributions be made to: “Music & Memory Program,” Durgin Pines Nursing Home, 9 Lewis Road, Kittery, ME 03904.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market St., North Berwick. Condolences may be expressed at JohnsonFuneralHomeME. com.
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