BANGOR – Anne Hanson Bamford, 88, wife of the late Sidney R. Bamford, passed away July 9, 2009, at a Bangor health care facility. She was born Aug. 14, 1920, in Bangor, the daughter of Walter K. and Edna (Crowell) Hanson. She attended Bangor schools, graduating from Bangor High School in 1938. During her youth, Anne was involved in activities at All Souls Congregational Church, the YWCA and Girl Scouts. She loved her summers spent at Camp Natarswi and outings at the family camp at Pleasant River Lake and at Hiram Blake Camps, Cape Rosier. After graduating from high school, Anne attended Vesper George School of Design, Boston, where she graduated in 1942 with a degree in interior design. After spending several years putting her artistic abilities to work in Boston, Anne returned home to Bangor, where she opened a unique gift shop called Hanson House. Anne married Sidney R. Bamford, Sept. 6, 1949, and they moved to Philadelphia, where Sid attended the Philadelphia School of Art for Commercial Design. After moving back to Bangor to start a family, they purchased their home on 15th Street, where Anne lived until 2005. During her years there Anne pursued all her life interests, including her family, painting, gardening, skiing and the outdoors. She was a member of Shakespeare Club, Junior League, a member and past president of PEO Chapter A and a corporator of Phillips-Strickland House, Bangor. A lifelong member of All Souls Congregational Church, Anne taught Sunday school and was for years involved in church fairs and many other church activities. The Bangor YWCA was also very important to her, where she was involved with running the nursery school and teaching stenciling and tole painting classes. In the mid-1970s Anne returned to work full time at the business founded by her father, Bangor True Value Hardware, where she worked until her retirement in 1985. After her retirement Anne and Sid toured Europe, where Anne was in her glory visiting all the great art museums and gardens of Europe. Anne also loved spending as much time as possible at the family cottage in Brooklin, where the ocean views, fresh air, and great times spent with family and friends continued to inspire her creativity. Anne is survived by her sons, Mark Bamford and his wife, Rosemary, of Bucksport and John Bamford and his wife, Jaclyn, of Cumberland; daughter, Beth Bamford and her husband, Steve Podsiadlo, of Biddeford; grandchildren, Blake Bamford and Libby Bamford; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by brothers, Fred C. Hanson and Robert H. Hanson; and a sister, Marian LeBlanc. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to the loving staff at Westgate Manor. There will be no visiting hours. A celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Friday, July 17, at All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, where a reception will be held immediately afterward. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her name may be made to All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401 or Phillips-Strickland House, 21 Boyd St., Bangor, ME 04401. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. Condolences may be offered at www.kileyandfoley.com.
ANNE HANSON BAMFORD
