Obituary of Ann Louise Bishop

Ann L. Bishop, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Hermon on March 20, 2021. One of five children, she was born to Leo and Florine (Ouellette) Thibodeau on August 17, 1938, in Caribou. The family moved to Bangor when she was a child, where she attended Fifth Street Middle School and graduated from Bangor High School with the Class of 1956. Ann married her husband, Wayne F. Bishop of Hermon, in 1959. Together they had four children and moved to Maryland in 1964, where Wayne worked for the Department of Agriculture until his death in 1971. Ann then returned to Hermon, Maine, in 1975 to be close to family while raising their children. Ann worked for many years as a waitress for Dysart’s Restaurant and enjoyed her job there immensely. Also a foster parent during the 1970s and 80s, she became a passionate advocate for those in her care. Fiery and fierce as she was, she would not hesitate to call anyone to ensure her foster children could access the services they needed.

It was Ann’s strength and sheer force of will that carried her through raising her own children to be independent, instilling in them a strong work ethic, a generosity of spirit, and the importance of doing the right thing. A fantastic mix of sass and class, Ann had all the social graces and was beloved by all who crossed her path. Still, she could also steal back the occasional horse when her close friend Anne Freeman said it was necessary! Ann built a home full of love and laughter, though those that knew her best understood the importance of making themselves scarce anytime she had to balance her checkbook or re-paint her living room (for the thousandth time). Ann’s home was where everyone’s friends routinely came to congregate, and she was always ready to rescue them, give advice, or straighten them out whenever she felt the need to do so. Always on the move, Ann took great pride in gardening, mowing the lawn, and cleaning at her home on the Billings Road Hill in Hermon.

In her retirement, she and her partner of 35 years, Ralph “Buzzy” Hamel, who predeceased her in 2018, enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Together, they spent countless summers driving them to every lake in eastern Maine, playing in the pool at her house, and climbing trees (an art form that Ann properly demonstrated to them, at 67 no less!). Ann also took immense pride in honoring every one of her grandchildren’s inherent gifts: encouraging their creativity and self-expression, attending countless show choir competitions, band concerts, and softball games, and even going so far as to man the concession stand for Hermon Little League for several years.

Ann is survived by her four children, Yvonne Mitchell and her husband, Carl, of Olney, MD; Bret Bishop and his wife, Tammy, of Hermon; Suzanne Bishop and her partner, Robert Miller, of Lamoine; and Renee Bishop and her husband, Duane Graves, of Hermon; seven grandchildren, including Brianna Raven and her husband Ben; Katie Burrill and her husband, Joshua; Joshua and Ethan Miller; Siobhan Mountain and her husband, Branden; Shannon Graves; and Faith Bishop; and two great-grandchildren, Veda and Edward Mountain. Also surviving are Ann’s two sisters, Joan Fenno of Portland; Sue Baker and her husband, Ray, of Phoenix, AZ; and one brother, David Thibodeau, and his wife Kathy of Corinth; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Wayne, in 1972, by her brother, John Thibodeau, in 1971, and a grandson, Eddie Wayne Turner, in 2012.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shaw House of Bangor or the American Lung Association. Arrangements trusted to Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, Bangor, and Brewer. Messages and memories may be shared at kileyandfoley.com.