SOUTH PORTLAND

Charlotte Marie Stuart, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on April 21, 2026, at Pinnacle Health & Rehab in South Portland after a long battle with Dementia.

She was born January 17, 1935 in her family home on Stanford Street in South Portland, and was the daughter of Arnold B and Irene B (Murphy) Cheney.

She attended South Portland schools growing up, and as a very young girl, met the love of her life, Ralph L Stuart. Because there was a 6 year age difference, Ralph shooed her away and told her to come back when she was older. Charlotte did just that, and at the age of 17 she married her sweetheart on August 30, 1952. Together they raised 6 children. Having never graduated from high school, she proudly went on to receive her diploma at the age of 47.

She was a homemaker who enjoyed her garden and plants.

Once her children were older, she worked part time at Mahoney Jr High School in the lunchroom doing meal prep and getting the lunches ready to serve the students.

After that she worked for a couple of local nursing homes doing housekeeping and would always take time out of her workday to sit with the residents who may not have visitors and would talk with them and love on them. She had many hobbies such as crocheting, sewing and doll making. She would create digital email newsletters that would contain inspirational quotes or funny photos and send them to her family and friends.

She was a woman of faith. She wasn't necessarily a church goer, but when she was able, she would attend the People's Methodist Church on Broadway where she always felt welcome.

She enjoyed walking on the Greenbelt in South Portland and would walk from her home on Pine Street to Mill Creek Park and also to Bug Light Park. But by far, her greatest joy in her later years was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Charlotte was predeceased by her husband Ralph in 2017 after being happily married for 65 years and raising an amazing family. Both of her parents passed, Irene in 1992, and Arnold in 1980. Her best friend Paulina (Pratt) McMillan passed away in 2010. She outlived all 4 of her siblings; Frederick H Cheney, Robert A Cheney, Alverta C Hansen, Thomas M Cheney and her 3 half siblings Hollis E Cheney, Dorothy (Saleeby) Foren, and Winifred L Cheney, as well as a granddaughter Hannah Stuart and grandson Corey Coburn.

She is survived by her 2 sons, Ralph L Stuart Jr (Pam) of Punta Gorda, FL, Stephen D Stuart (Lynda Hurd Goodman) of Auburn, ME, as well as her 4 daughters Gail Y Hauser (Larry) of Standish, ME, Pamela M Cummings (Rick) of Otisfield, ME, Diana M Jeffrey (Marc) of Raymond, ME, and Claudia J Stoddard (Larry) of Alfred, ME.

She is also survived by her 17 remaining grandchildren Jason Stuart (Darby), Stephen Stuart Jr (Erin), Meghan Stuart (Brian Tobey), Matthew Eaton (Heather), Timothy Eaton, Kathryn Eaton, Kyle Rainey (Abigail), Nicolas Cummings, Nataley Jeffrey, Jake Jeffrey, Patricia Wing (Jaime), Nathan Stoddard, Andrew Stoddard, Brandy Connolly, Isabella Brown, Jayda Rodriguez, and Maya Stoddard, along with her 14 great grandchildren, Brady Stuart, Hannah Tobey, Connor Tobey, Milo Tobey, Julia Eaton, Emily Eaton, Caroline Eaton, Hailey Eaton, Dominic Eaton, Jo Cook, Maximus Cook, Sophia Norton, Judy Grant and Josephine Margaret Rainey.

Charlotte has had many relationships in her 91 years, notably with some of her nieces such as Carol (Foren) Adams and Laura (Foren) Black and Joan (Walsh) St.Cyr; whom she always referred to as one of her girls. Quite honestly, there are so many extended family and friends to keep track of, yet we know that she loved you all.

Without a doubt, she will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who were blessed to have known her.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial will follow at 11:45 a.m. at Highland Memorial Cemetery, South Portland.

A reception will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Elizabeth Hobbs Hospitality Center, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in her memory to:

The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland

P.O. Box 336

Westbrook, ME 04098

https://arlgp.org/