Florence Bishop Libby

Westbrook, ME - Florence Bishop Libby passed on Tuesday, October 3rd, at Maine Medical Center at the age of None-of-Your-Business, with her loving husband by her side. The only child of Edward Bishop of Caribou, Maine and Clare Bosworth of Holyoke, Massachusetts, she was raised in the Pride's Corner neighborhood of Westbrook, where she was properly and thoroughly spoiled, although she never did get that pony. Florence began school at St. Dominic’s in Portland, later transferring to the Westbrook school system, where she graduated from Westbrook High School in 1968. She went on to study at the New Hampshire Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1971 as a Registered Nurse. She worked at all three of Portland's major hospitals, ending her career by filling several administrative positions at Saint Joseph's Manor. While at St. Joe’s, she taught many Portland-area nurses about infectious diseases, where she made popular the phrase, “If it’s warm and it’s wet and it’s not yours – use gloves.” Florence loved to plan travel. The one time she let her husband pick the hotel, very inappropriately named “Gentleman Johnny’s”, was the last time she let him pick the hotel. She loved to tell people about new places to go, sending them articles she cut from the local paper with ideas for new places, restaurants, or events. As any true Mainer, she loved to give you fifteen options for “how to get there from here.” Florence had to take second fiddle to her many sisters-in-law when it came to making pies, but she could wow you with her recipe for Calico Beans. She loved to make her mother’s “mincemeat leftovers” every Thanksgiving. Florence is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years, Gene; son Christopher of Topsham, Maine and wife Ginger; son Thomas of Attleboro, Massachusetts and wife Alisa; granddaughter, Virginia; and countless beloved nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, friends, acquaintances, strangers, frenemies, and numerous Hummel figurines. Her family will be forever grateful to the many fantastic home health aides and visiting nurses that helped Florence to age at home. A nurse is never a good patient, but they all assisted her with grace and dignity. A special thank you to the spectacular staff of the Barron Center in Portland for making these past 20 months a comfortable home for her, and for letting her put on her nurse’s hat occasionally and give the orders. A service of remembrance will be held at the Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main Street, Westbrook, on Friday, October 13 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, how about you do something nice for yourself? Order dessert or a bottle of something special. You work hard, you deserve nice things. Raise a glass and say something pretty about Florence. (Extra points if it's also a bit catty... seriously, you should have heard what she said about you.)

Florence Bishop Libby

October 3, 2023

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