On August 16, Elvira S. Ridlon nee DiBiase devoted wife and mother and grandmother passed peacefully after a 2 year battle with cancer. Elvira was born in Portland Maine on March 6th 1932 to Concetti and Laura DiBiase and attended local schoools graduating from Portland High School in 1950. In her 50's, Elvira attended Westbrook College in the evenings attaining her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts. In the early years Elivra worked at Dibiase's Grocery store which was her mothers well known business.
As her children matured she started her career at the Cumberland County Court House first in the Registry of Deeds, then as the County Clerk for Cumberland until her retirement. Elivra was always involved in local and County Politics working election booths and coordinating election campaigns for her husband Wesley W. Ridlon for County Sheriff.
Whether at the family home in Portland or the camp in Buxton Elvira's door was always open to family, friends or strangers greeted with a fine home cooked meal a game of cards or just plain conversation. An extremely talented woman Elvira was an excellent seamstress, knitter, and braider of rugs. In her youth she would crochet granny squares to be used to make quilts that were sent to England (Bundles for Britain) during WWII. In her retirement she was involved in the HUGS project sewing and knitting for the troops overseas, and also after diagnoses she knitted Chemo hats for children and adults suffering from the side affects of Chemotherapy.
The greatest joy in Elvira's life were her grandchildren doing anything should could for them whether it be baking them their favorite cookies or helping further their education.
Elvira leaves behind her husband of 59 years, Wesley Ridlon of Buxton, her children: Daniel Ridlon and his wife Jeanne of Topsham, Margaret Hutchins and her husband Brad of Gray and Daivd Ridlon of Portland; her grandchildren: Wesley E., Robert and Anthony Ridlon, Nicholas Hutchins and his wife Stephanie, and Rebecca Elkanich and her husband Craig; and her siblings: Antoinette (Toni) Feeney and Daniel DiBiase. She will also be missed by several nieces and nephews.
Elvira was predeceased by her siblings Mary Requia and Pat DiBiase.
A Memorial Mass will be held 10 am Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at St. Anne's Catholic Church 299 Main St. Gorham, ME Arrangements are under the care of Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, ME 04103.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Gosnell Memorial Hospice House 11 Hunnewell Drive Scarborough, Maine 04074 or to Buxton Fire and Rescue 185 Portland Rd. Buxton, Me 04093
Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Elivra's guestbook.
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