PORTLAND – Louise E. Libby, 92, of Portland, ME passed peacefully on Feb. 25, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving daughters.
Born August 1, 1923 to Alexander A. and Victoria E. (Dragoon) Godish, she was raised on her maternal grandparents’ farm in West Peru, ME. She is pre-deceased by her husband Lewis P. Libby of North Amity, ME and survived by her three daughters Karen Louise and husband William Mauro of Sudbury, MA, Linda Jean of South Portland, ME and Ellen Margaret of Orono, ME; her two grandchildren Elizabeth Mauro of Carbondale, CO and Vincent Mauro of Park City, UT. She is also survived by her only and beloved sister, Margaret (Margie) Martineau of Mexico, ME whose dear husband Edmund Martineau passed in 2008, and her daughters Susan, Sally, Sharon and Barbara and their husbands, children and grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her only brother, Alec Godish of West Peru, ME who is survived by his only child, Donna. She is also survived by her loyal brother-in-law Hugh D. Libby, of North Amity and Houlton, ME and the extended Libby family. She had a special fondness for her grandnephew Craig Libby and his family of Southern CA and their Medical Ministry work.
After attending Peru Grammar School, she graduated in 1941 from Stephens High School in Rumford as a National Honor Society student; she was also active in several sports.
As WWII began in 1941, Louise accepted a clerical position in Rumford with Judge Matthew McCarty, who was a valued mentor. She was next hired as an office manager at the newly opened H.P. Hood milk production plant in Brunswick, ME, where she worked for five years, before transferring to New Bedford, MA as office manager for a larger facility. She was promoted to the same position at the larger plant in Portland, ME. At the time, many businesses, including H.P. Hood & Son, frowned on married working women in managerial positions, so Louise resigned when she married Lewis P. Libby in 1950.
Settling in the Deering section of Portland, she and Lewis and their daughters enjoyed the neighborhood of Lawn Avenue, where she made life-long friends, including Paul (deceased) and Vieno Stimpson (deceased) and their children Paul (deceased) Karen M. of Portland, ME. Margaret (Lee) Giles and children Jimmy Lee and Gina (Lee) Day, husband Brian Day, her grandchildren Ceile and Kevin of Scarborough, ME and Bellingham, WA.
The family enjoyed boating and fishing across the state and in 1963 built a “camp” on Lake Maranacook in Readfield, ME where Louise enjoyed many fun-filled summers and where her daughters and grandchildren still gather each summer.
In 1968, Louise returned to work “fulltime” in Portland in the Medicare Group of Blue Cross, as the compliance financial officer. She traveled in Maine, NH and MA as needed. She retired from Blue Cross in 1988, having served 20 years, leaving as Financial Officer of the Medicare Reimbursement and Audit Department.
In retirement, Louise enjoyed gardening with Lewis at their North Deering home, spending summertime at Lake Maranacook and fourteen winters in Treasure Island, FL, near her sister and husband, the Martineau’s.
Her volunteer activities included ombudsman work for nursing home care (State Street, Portland and Falmouth homes), AARP Office in Portland, Maine Island Trail Association Office, Portland Public Library downtown and as long-time usher for Great Performance, Merrill Auditorium.
Louise was a long-time member of Women’s Literary Union (WLU), attending book group reviews and luncheons since the 1960’s. In recent years, she enjoyed judging literary essays for their high school student scholarship program. She was also a member of the Rumford, Lithuanian American Club.
We would like to give special thanks to all of “The Girls”, who provided exceptional care for Louise in her home for the past year and a half. Her daughters are most appreciative of the kindness and support they provided.
Friends and family are invited to a simple graveside service Monday, February 29th at 11am, at Evergreen Cemetery. There will be a gathering at 1683 Washington Avenue immediately following the burial service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Louise Libby may be made to The Women’s Literary Union Scholarship Fund or The March of Dimes.