Barbara Ann (Meeker) Fetteroll

Barbara Fetteroll was a long-time parishioner at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. She loved Jesus and had a special devotion to St. Joseph. She attended the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, CT, graduating as an RN, BSN. Later, she earned a master’s degree in Nursing Administration from Boston University. She was a wonderful nurse, not only because she was well-qualified, but also because she genuinely cared for every single one of her patients.

In 1954, while attending the University of St. Joseph, Barbara met her husband, Eugene (Gene). The couple married in 1957 and began a 61-year journey together, full of family and faith. Gene says he could not imagine a more loving spouse. Although he was not a Catholic when he and Barbara met, Gene converted to Catholicism 3 years after their marriage due to Barbara’s excellent example of faith. He says she never pressured him to convert.

Barbara was also a devoted mother who always made time to see to the needs of her children, even while working part-time nursing jobs. After raising their 4 sons, Barbara and Gene moved to South Portland, ME, and enjoyed traveling together—especially loving their numerous trips to Ireland.

On one of their trips in Maine, they found Castine and the Maine Maritime Academy, attending a football game there. Impressed with MMA, it’s values, students, faculty, staff and community, Gene and Barbara funded a scholarship there in 2006 and have actively supported it ever since.

Barbara was a fun person to be with and believed that “attitude is everything.” Remaining cheerful throughout her life, she would tell anyone who wished her a good day, “If I don’t, it’s my own fault.”

~Catholic Foundation of Maine joins with the friends and family of Barbara, praying for the peaceful repose of her soul.~