Hildegarde S. Spalding

FALMOUGH – Mrs. Hildegarde S. Spalding, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, died peacefully at Mercy Hospital on Jan. 26, 2022 following a brief illness.Heidi, as she was known by friends and family, was born Hildegarde Richardson Stubbs, Nov. 24, 1933. Born in Portland, she was raised in Cumberland Foreside. Her education began in a one room schoolhouse. A graduate of Deering High School, Heidi completed her formative education at Connecticut College and at Katherine Gibbs College in Boston, Mass.Heidi Stubbs married Peter Spalding in 1954 at St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Falmouth. Residing briefly in Portland, Maine, they moved to Portland, Oregon. According to Heidi, “It rained straight for three months!” They returned to Maine, and settled in Waterville, to raise their six children.Heidi was an active volunteer in the garden club, the Red Cross, and Thayer Hospital. She attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and supported her children’s academic educations with periodic visits to classroom parties, making and donating clothing, and painting faces at the Averill School Fun Fair. Heidi instilled in her children an appreciation for education. She was forever learning through books, documentaries, and travel. A lover of the great outdoors, she taught her children to swim, water ski, and snow ski. A strong and graceful skier herself, Heidi began skiing at Hurricane Hill in Falmouth, later settling at Sugarloaf Mountain. She actively supported and volunteered in Sugarloaf’s junior ski programs and in the International World Cup Tall Timber Classic and Alberg Kandahar race events.Her summer vacations were spent at Sebago Lake. It afforded a relaxing opportunity to pursue sailing, swimming, water skiing, entertaining friends and family, and gardening. Thunder Point, as it was called, reflected the casual elegance, warmth and charm that was Heidi. From Sebago Lake, she moved to Blueberry Commons at Ocean View. Heidi spent her final years at Foreside Harbor and Falmouth By the Sea.One of Heidi’s myriad talents was her ability to see the potential in things. She enjoyed refinishing furniture. Her homes were filled with gems she had unearthed and lovingly restored. Sewing was another great talent of hers. Heidi taught her children to sew augmenting their fashionable wardrobes with one-of-a-kind creations. Heidi created fabulous home decor, achieving warm, convivial interiors. Her sense of style and elan was legendary. The “snic-snic” of sheers cutting fabric and the whir of her sewing machine are treasured memories.Heidi’s warm, engaging personality charmed those she encountered. Loving to laugh and have fun, she was also a generous listener, encouraging others to share their stories. She will be remembered for her intelligent, insightful and empathetic commentary regarding world affairs, politics, and community issues.Heidi’s travels took her to Europe, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, the Coast of Maine, and Africa. Her greatest love, the African safaris.Heidi’s life was largely influenced by her inexhaustible capacity to give love, to comfort, to support, and to nurture others. No family visit was complete without a fond embrace, a kiss on the cheek, and a whispered word of encouragement.Heidi Spalding was a truly kind, clever, compassionate, and loving soul. She is dearly missed.Heidi was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, S. Peter Spalding, by her sister Gretchen Stone, by her brother William “Bill” Stubbs, by sisters-in- law Virginia “Ginny” Stubbs, and Elizabeth “Liz” Spalding.Heidi is survived by: daughter Gretchen Spalding Wetzel and daughter-in-law Cynthia Bissonette Halliday of Cumberland Foreside; daughter Alexandra Spalding Norton and son-in-law Arthur Easton Norton of Woodstock, Vt.; daughter Hilary Spalding Fischer and son-in-law Frederick Stirzel Fischer III of Strafford, Pa.; son Peter Laurence Spalding and daughter-in-law Lauren Dul Spalding, of Colts Neck, N.J.; daughter Heather Spalding Sugg and son-in-law William Caswell Sugg III of Palermo; son Richard William Spalding II and daughter-in-law Patricia Mellon Spalding of Newburyport, Mass. She is also survived by grandchildren: Peter Joseph Wetzel and Sara Murphy Wetzel of South Portland; Hans August Wetzel and Rebecca Quinn Wetzel of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Ingrid Elisabeth Wetzel of Lebanon, N.H.; Frederick Stirzel Fischer IV, “Fritz” of Philadelphia, Pa., Kyle Alexander Spalding of Cambridge, Mass.; Tyler Chapman Spalding of Colts Neck, N.J.; William Caswell Sugg IV, “Rusty” of Burlington, Vt.; Elizabeth Spalding Sugg of Palermo; John William Spalding, “Jack” of Newburyport, Mass. Heidi was overjoyed to be the great-grandmother to: Miles Jameson Wetzel and Lucy Grace Wetzel of South Portland; Jude August Wetzel and Cian Quinn Wetzel of Brooklyn, N.Y.There will be no funeral service. The Spalding Family intends to have a celebration of Heidi’s life later in the year. To share memories of Heidi or to leave the family an online condolence please visit, http://www.athutchins.comThose wishing to commemorate Heidi may consider a contribution to Raymond Fire and Rescue,1443 Roosevelt Trail, Raymond, ME 04071or toNorthern Light Mercy Hospital,PO Box 679,Portland, ME 04104.