Mary H. MacBride
MACBRIDE, Mary H., 100, Presque Isle, at Falmouth, June 5, 2016. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Thur., June 9, from 2-4 p.m. A private family Celebration be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
PRESQUE ISLE – Mary H. MacBride, 100 years young, an extraordinary woman of enthusiasm, energy, warmth, and compassion, died June 5, 2016, in Falmouth embraced by her family.
Throughout her life, she exuded wonderful optimism, living each day as if it were the best day of her life. Her positive outlook and enthusiasm were infectious to all who knew her. She would often say that she has had the most amazing fulfilled life. What a beautiful and accomplished lady. “She is a grateful woman for the smallest of things;” as one of her friends would say. Mary was truly an inspiration to those who knew her and was a bright light whereever she went.
She married Milt MacBride of Easton in 1942 while he was serving in the United States Army during World War II. They bounced from army base to army base until 1944 when he was sent overseas to the European theatre of war. Mary returned home to live with her parents when her son, M. Milton MacBride Jr., was born in 1945. When the war ended, they lived in Mars Hill until 1947 and then moved to Presque Isle where their daughter, Barbara Hussey MacBride, was born in 1948.
In the early years of their marriage, she was a stay at home mom, attending all the kids’ activities and being involved in many volunteer organizations. Mary got such satisfaction helping and doing things for others. She had a genuine interest in everyone she met.
After her husband died in 1975, she channeled that energy in another direction, running for the Maine House of Representatives from Presque Isle, serving sixteen years. While at the legislature, she championed any cause that she felt would better the County and the district she represented. She was so enthusiastic about her job, she loved discussing all the issues of the day, and it was a great feeling of satisfaction to her to serve the people of Presque Isle, Aroostook County and the State of Maine.
In 1979, she was honored by Beta Sigma Phi Society as “Lady of the Year”; in 1983, selected by the Bangor Daily News as one of the 10 most outstanding women in Northern and Eastern Maine; selected as one of the 12 outstanding women in Aroostook County by Maine Centers of Women.
She loved all of her family and her favorite time was spent with them, watching the grandchildren’s games, and particularly enjoying the holidays around the dining room table. “The more the merrier” she would say. Her church was her inspiration and she was deeply passionate about and loyal to her faith.
She had such a close relationship with her brother, Ted, all through her life and almost every Saturday noon, Ted, his wife, Clara, and Mary would meet for lunch.
At home in Presque Isle, she got such pleasure working in her flower garden and working with the C.A.N.C.E.R. group to deliver bread each month.
Mary was an ardent Red Sox and Patriot fan and was always up to speed on almost every player and every play.
After she retired from the legislature in 1994, she ventured to Key Colony Beach in the Florida Keys for several weeks each winter spending great times there with Barb and Frank, Mac and Nancy, various grandchildren, and enjoying new friends, only to return to Presque Isle each spring fully energized. She so looked forward to playing golf and bridge with her friends back home. Mary loved life and the joy of living. She took the “time to smell the roses.”
Mary always dressed beautifully in cheerful pretty colors and remained a classy incredible lady for all of her 100 years.
She had many happy years at their camp at Portage Lake along with wonderful family get-togethers at Drakes Island, ME. In recent years, she got such pleasure entertaining all her children, grandchildren and greats at her home at Oceanview in Falmouth, ME, and she loved the various fun excursions with Nancy and Mac and also when Barb and Frank were down to visit.
Born on May 11, 1916 in Blaine, ME, the daughter of Stetson H. and Gladys G. Hussey, Mary lived in Mars Hill all of her early life. She graduated from Wheaton College in 1939.
Mary is survived by her son, Mac MacBride, and his wife Nancy of Yarmouth, ME, and her daughter, Barbara MacBride Bishop and her husband, Frank, Sr. of Presque Isle; by her six grandchildren, Karlyn MacBride of Yarmouth, ME, Jennifer MacBride of Portland, ME, Frank Bishop, Jr. and his wife, Annie of South Portland, ME, Bradford Bishop and his wife, Sara of Norton, MA, Marigan Bishop and her husband, Casey Cribby of Biddeford, ME, and Joseph Bishop, a recent law school graduate of Rutgers University; seven great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Bruce Hussey and a sister-in- law, Clara Hussey, both of Mars Hill.
She was predeceased by her husband, Milton MacBride; and her brother, Stetson (Ted) H. Hussey, Jr.
Her heartfelt affection goes out to her special friends and extraordinary staff at Oceanview at Falmouth for their wonderful friendship and a special thanks to the caregivers at VNA who became part of her extended family.
Calling hours will be held at the Duncan Graves funeral home at 30 Church St., Presque Isle, on Thursday, June 9, from 2 – 4 p.m. A private family Celebration of a Life well lived will be held at the gravesite at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to C-A- N-C- E-R, P.O. Box 811, Presque Isle, ME 04769 or to the Presque Isle Congregational Church, 27 Church Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
