BUCKSPORT – Rosemary A. Bridges, 86, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, with her loving family by her side, at a Bangor health care facility. She was born Aug. 7, 1922, the daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Vincenzo and Maria (Lauricella) Augello, Americanized Vincent and Mary Angell. Rosemary grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and studied for two years to be a teacher, but necessity of war times meant quitting to work. At 19 she fell in love with a soldier from Maine, who brought her to Bucksport after World War II. She worked as a bookkeeper, salesperson and even a professional knitter, who designed patterns for publication. She was a cancer survivor and for many years volunteered for the American Cancer Society. Rosemary was a church lay reader and as a church leader helped to start Bucksport Community Concerns. She volunteered for Meals for ME and was also a school friend in the Bucksport Elementary School system, where she loved to read and teach knitting to the children. She was an avid reader and later in life continued her education at Beal College. Music was a great joy to her, especially opera, and she was a member of Bagaduce Chorale for five years. She also was a member of Bucksport Garden Club, October Club and Flying Needles. Rosemary was a fabulous cook, making up recipes, and generously welcoming friends and neighbors to her table. She is survived by two daughters, Charlotte Bridges White and her husband, Donald, and Stephanie Bridges, all of Bucksport; three grandchildren, Denise Sheehan and her husband, Michael, of Bucksport, Jeffrey Mann and his wife, Jennifer, of Eugene, Ore., and Bryan Mann and his wife, Maria, of Bucksport; three great-grandchildren, Brentley Sheehan of Bucksport, Adam Sheehan of Tampa, Fla., and Joseph Mann of Bucksport; and one great-great-grandchild, Autumn Sheehan. She is also survived by one sister, Charlotte (Angell) Goodman of Parker, Ariz.; one sister-in-law, Bessie (Bridges) Small of Bucksport; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Howard E. Bridges; her parents; five siblings, Lawrence, Salvatore “Sam,” Charlie, Roy and Marian Chandler. She was also predeceased by a special nephew, Roy Smith, who was like a son to her. Family and friends will gather for visitation 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday at Franklin Street United Methodist Church, Bucksport, with Pastor Peter Remick officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Bucksport, after the service. A reception will be held after the service in the church vestry. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rosemary’s memory may be made to Bucksport Community Concerns, P.O. Box 603, Bucksport, ME 04416.
ROSEMARY A. BRIDGES
