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Maine Funeral Home Notices and Obituaries, Monday, 17 August 2026
Annette Bassett
Ellsworth, Maine
In the late evening of August 10th, the world lost a gifted woman, devoted friend, and loving family member. For those who knew and cherished her, life without her will be much less rich.
Born in Austin, Texas, December 17th, 1936, to Roy and Myrtle LaBauve, Annette enjoyed the cultural benefits afforded by growing up in a university town. She thrived as an exceptional student through elementary and high schools, developing special interests in languages, literature, history and politics, as well as classical music. She went on to attend Rice University in Houston, Texas, where she earned both Bachelor?s (1958) and Master?s (1960) degrees in English Literature. At Rice, she was awarded numerous honors, including election to Phi Beta Kappa, and being named the inaugural president of Jones College, Rice?s first college for women.
In 1958, she married Thomas A. Kitchens, Jr., and together they started a family in Houston. They then moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico for two years, after which they settled in Brookhaven, on Long Island, New York. Following her lifelong fascination for books and reading, Annette then began work in the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, and earned an additional Master?s degree in Library Science in 1974. In her 24 years at SCLS, Annette rose to the position of Interim Director, overseeing dozens of libraries in Suffolk County.
In 1975, Annette married her second husband, Charles E. Bassett. They enjoyed 37 years together, spending time between homes in Brookhaven, Manhattan, and Hartland, Connecticut. Charles (Charlie) and Annette shared a passion for opera, particularly those of Guiseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. They loved to travel and especially enjoyed attending opera performances in the many states and countries they visited. Amazingly, Annette eventually accomplishing her goal of seeing staged productions of every single opera Verdi ever wrote. New York City was their mecca, where they appreciated the panoply of cultural offerings, often attending
performances at the Metropolitan Opera and viewing art exhibits at the City?s museums and galleries.
In 2005, Annette and Charles moved to Ellsworth, Maine to be near family. Annette soon became an active member of the Ellsworth Literature Club, the Morgan Bay Literature Club, and later also of the Parker Ridge Poetry Club, finding many new friends with shared interests in each. Her profound interest in and knowledge of the poetic genius of John Milton, William Shakespeare, John Keats, William Wordsworth, and Emily Dickinson (among many others) found expression in the presentations she prepared for these groups. In line with her civic engagement and deep love of music, Annette volunteered for the Ellsworth Community Music Institute, where she delighted in the opportunity to support young musicians who came there for music lessons.
Annette is survived by daughters Mary Ellen Kitchens (Renate Küchler) of Munich, Germany, and Jeannie Kell (Dugald Kell) of Surry, Maine. She leaves behind three belo??ved grandchildren ? Braden Kell of Manhattan, NY, Ethan Kell (Tianyi Huang) of Manhattan, NY, and Emma Kell of Boston, MA ? as well as many family members in Texas, and lifelong friends in Texas and Connecticut.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles, her brothers David and LeRoy, her cousin and close childhood friend Louise Saxon, her parents Roy and Myrtle LaBauve, and her adored canine companion Vincenzo.
The family would like to thank the exceptional staff at Parker Ridge, Blue Hill, Maine, as well as the caregivers of Cahoon Care Associates for their care and support of Annette.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 10th at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Ellsworth. A private service will be held in the spring at the family?s summer home in Hartland, Connecticut.
Please consider a donation in Annette?s memory to the Ellsworth Community Music Institute.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1936 - 2026 (89 years)