Petrina Gutfinski Obituary (1946

Petrina (Trina) Marie Belmonte Gutfinski passed away unexpectedly at her home on November 18, 2012, due to complications from endometrial cancer. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut on September 28, 1946, the youngest child of Constanzio and Rosamund (Martone) Belmonte. She grew up in East Haven, and attended Southern Connecticut State University, where she studied social work. After graduating in 1968, Trina accepted a position with the Maine Department of Health and Welfare, later Human Services, where she worked until 1985. She eventually earned a Masters degree from Boston University, and aided hundreds of children in abusive and dangerous homes during her career. She took pride in knowing that her work improved the lives of so many people. On September 5, 1975, Roy C. Gutfinski was blessed by being united in marriage to Trina. Together they raised three children, and since 2004 they've been blessed with the privilege of raising their grandson.Through the years, Trina served her community in many ways. She served as the leader of the Pittston's Prancing Ponies 4-H club for many years. She helped numerous young people see the country and the world through 4-H conferences and exchange programs. Trina served as the President of the Kennebec County Extension Association, and on the state committee for the 4-H/Japanese Exchange Program that brought hundreds of Japanese children to Maine for the summer. Even though she raised her children in rural Maine, she believed that travel could open doors. She often recounted stories of her travels as a young woman. She visited her 50th state-Hawaii-with close friends in 2010 and the British Isles for her thirtieth anniversary with her husband Roy in 2005. She imparted her love of travel to her eldest daughter, and they travelled together to Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic in 2006. Family vacations to New Hampshire, Florida and Massachusetts are treasured family memories. In the late 1990s, Trina served as Music Director for St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gardiner. For the past several years Trina served on the Board of Trustees for the First Congregational Church of Pittston where she is a member. Trina has been active in two Augusta-area groups serving the needs and challenges of grandparents and other non-parental relatives raising children. In the past few years she has shared the family interest in Eastern European heritage as an officer in the Slavophile Society. Trina was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, mentor and most importantly a Christian woman with an abiding love for, and trust in, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is survived by her husband Roy Cornell Gutfinski; son Roy, Jr.; daughter Briana, and grandson Jack, also of Pittston; and Erin Gutfinski Buschardt of Round Rock, Texas; a sister, Lenann Crisci and husband Sal, of Augusta; a brother, Matthew Belmonte of Connecticut; and special nieces and nephews Brent, Lynn and Brien Crisci. The family wishes to thank Dr. John VanSummern of Gardiner, Dr. Michael Ting of Augusta, and Dr. Jason LaChance of Scarborough and their associates as well as Maine General, Maine Medical Center, and HealthReach home health services for their excellent care. Visiting hours will be held Friday Nov., 23 from 4 to 7 pm at Staples Funeral Home 53 Brunswick Ave Gardiner. A funeral service will be held Saturday Nov 24th at 11am at the First Congregational Church Pittston. Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery Pittston