ELIZABETH Y. (BILLER) FOLEY

BANGOR – Elizabeth “Betty” Y. (Biller) Foley, beloved wife of the late George L. Foley, died peacefully Oct. 16, 2008, after a brief illness. Elizabeth Yvonne Biller was born Feb. 27, 1925, in Bangor, Pa., the youngest child of Theodore Michael and Mary (Goran) Biller. Lizzie, as she was known then, attended a one-room schoolhouse in Bangor, Pa., until she began working at the early age of 15 to help support her family. She worked in several factories, including her favorite, a toy factory. During World War II, after slightly adjusting her age, she worked in a Pennsylvania defense plant, building bombs for the war effort. In 1946, she came to Bangor to care for her sister, Mary, who was ill at the time. It was meant to be a brief stay, but in the end, Mary moved away, and Lizzie stayed. Coincidentally, someone started calling her Betty during that time, and it stuck, but only here in Maine! Betty married George Oct. 2, 1948, and they enjoyed 55 loving years together. Betty was a homemaker extraordinaire! She babysat in her home for many, many children from the early 1960s up through the early ’80s. Betty became a grandmother twice during the 1980s and once again her name changed to the one she was most proud of “Mimi.” She spent hours nurturing, playing, listening and baking for “her boys,” and their friends. Because of Pat and Mike, she was a faithful follower of John Bapst football from fall 1999 to fall 2005, never missing a game; home or away. She tirelessly baked and cooked to support the fund raising events for Pat and Mike’s sports teams, bands, fraternities and any other activities they were involved with throughout the years. Betty and George enjoyed their 15 yearly trips with George’s flight crew from the 486th Bombardment group, of the 8th Air Force; and she continued to stay in touch with surviving members and spouses until her death. Elizabeth was a communicant of St. John’s Catholic Church, Bangor. Survivors include her devoted daughters, Candace Healy and her husband, Jack, of Holden, and Linda Mynahan and her husband, Daniel, of Lewiston; two greatly loved and cherished grandsons, Patrick Healy of Chesterfield, Mo., and Michael Healy of Orono; and one brother, Theodore Biller and his wife, Helen, of Stewartsville, N.J. Elizabeth is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including special nephews, Rodney Watson and wife, Brenda, of Franklin Lakes, N.J., Elwood Stocker and wife, Grace, and Charles Stocker and wife, Kay; niece, Anna Stocker, all of Pen Argyl, Pa.; and niece, Shirley Snoddy and husband, Marvin, of Allentown, Pa. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Christine Campbell of Brewer, Carolyn Keilty of Waltham, Mass., and Dorothy Burkett of Omaha, Neb. Betty was grateful for the support and love of her wonderful neighbors, the Stevenson family. In addition to her husband and parents, Elizabeth was predeceased by her brother, Andrew Biller; and sisters, Mary Watson and Cynthia (Stocker) Baker. Relatives and friends may call 2-4 p.m. Friday at Kiley and Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor, where funeral services will be held immediately after with the Rev. Roland Nadeau, celebrant. Interment will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery. Those who wish may make donations in her honor to New Hope Hospice, P.O. Box 757, Holden, ME 04429. Our hearts hold you tightly, and there you will remain. Life goes on without you, but it will never be the same.