MILLINOCKET and HAMPDEN – Florence (Haines) Chu-dio, 87, peacefully made her passage to be with our Lord and walk among the angels Sat-urday, Jan. 22, 2011, with her loving daughter at her side, after a brief illness. She was born Sept. 24, 1923, in Millinocket, the daughter of Clinton Haines and Mary (Cusack) Dow.
Florence graduated from Stearns High School, and was a devout Catholic and Christian. She attended St. Mathew Church, Saint Paul the Apostle Parish and St. Martin of Tours Church, and Christ the Divine Mercy Parish. She loved crafts and reading, and spent hours shopping and looking for bargains. She was also a great cook. For many years Florence practiced her ministry of clothing the needy. She purchased and distributed clothing to those less fortunate. She was a spiritual Christian woman who will be sadly missed.
She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Fitzgerald and her husband, Morris “Skip,” of Hampden; grandsons, Michael Fitzgerald and his wife, Dawn, of Putnam Station, N.Y., and Branden Fitzgerald and wife, Beth, of Hampden; five great-grandchildren, Michaela, Michael, Ashley, Aaron and Blake Fitzgerald; two sisters, Louise Hawkins and Ann Soucie; a sister-in-law, Sylvianne Haines, all of Millinocket; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her beloved son, Paul John Chudio, in 2006, whom she held so dear to her heart; the father of her children, John Chudio; a great-granddaughter, Megan Marie Fitzgerald; sister, Carol (Haines) DeCourcy; and brothers, Ver-non and Clinton Haines. The family thanks the priests and Eucharistic ministers who were always there and ready to help. Also a very special thank-you to Marilyn Farmer and Nancy Grover, who Florence considered her adopted daughters and who gave her comfort, friendship, support and prayers.
A celebration of Florence’s life will be held 5-7 p.m. Wed-nesday, Jan. 26, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, 441 Main Road South, Hampden. All family and friends are invited to attend. A Christian Mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday at St. Martin of Tours Church, Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, with Deacon Dan Watson presiding. Graveside services will be held in the spring at Millinocket Cemetery. Donations in Florence’s name may be made to Katahdin Support Group, 10 Field St., Millinocket, ME 04462-1927. For an online memory book and to leave condolences, please visit
www.bowersfuneral.com.