CAMDEN – Charlotte G. Stancioff, 84, passed away at home in Camden, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, after a brief illness.
She was born Charlotte Gaillet in Blendecques, France on Nov. 13, 1926. In 1946, following the destruction of their newly-built home by occupying Nazi forces, her family came to the U.S. and settled in Larchmont, N.Y. Her parents and their six children were featured in the New York Sun as the largest family ever to have immigrated to the U.S. by airplane.
Charlotte met her husband of 59 years, Dimitri Stancioff, through her Manhattanville College friend, Dimitri’s sister Anne. Married in 1951, the couple lived in Washington D.C. and South Dartmouth, Mass. before moving to Rockport with four children in 1959. After the birth of a fifth child, they settled in their permanent Camden residence in 1967.
Through the years Charlotte supported and volunteered on behalf of numerous arts and youth-related organizations, including Maine Coast Artists, Projects (Youth Links), Youth Arts, and Bay Chamber Concerts. She enjoyed Monday Club, and in her extensive reading emphasized biography, history and literature. Though French was her native language, few could rival her skill at Scrabble or Upwords. Charlotte was musically gifted, skilled at gymnastics, and prolific at fabric art and other handiwork.
Her chief interest, however, was people. With her kind heart, her subtle wisdom and her not-so-subtle opinions, she not only raised five successful children of her own, but also had an important influence on countless other people passing through her life. A keen and perceptive observer of human nature, Charlotte greatly enjoyed meeting new people and always welcomed guests. Her household has always been known for its frequent large gatherings including people from all over the world, all of whom felt at home with her and nurtured by her attention and her famous cooking.
Her greatest joy was her family.
Charlotte is survived by her husband, Dimitri; her three sons: Ivan and his wife, Lynn Travis of Lincolnville, Paul and his wife Cyndy, of Chesterville, and Andrew and his wife Esperanza, of Camden; her daughter Anne Tatgenhorst and her husband Jim, of Winterport; her sisters: Elisabeth Delavigne, Helene DeNeergaard, and Edith Hadik; her brother Bernard Gaillet; her grandchildren, Dimitri and Lucia Stancioff, Elisabeth and Louisa Stancioff, Nadejda and Yani Stancioff, and Helena and Sarah Tatgenhorst; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Emile Pierre and Elisabeth Avot Gaillet; her sister, Fanny Guerlain, and her daughter, Elisabeth Stancioff-Sabatino.
A Memorial Mass followed by a reception was celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2010 at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church in Camden.
If desired, memorial donations may be made in Charlotte’s memory to Youthlinks/Broadreach, 420 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841 or to Coastal Family Hospice, 34 Old County Rd., Rockland, ME 04841.
Condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the Stancioff family by visiting their book of memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.
