Mary I Rustin

Milford--Mary Isabelle Clemense (Damboise) Rustin left this earthly world during the early morning hours of Monday, October 28th, 2019. Mary was the daughter of Gladys (Wright) Damboise and William J. Damboise. She was born on April 28th, 1930 in Old Town, Maine - the eldest of 9 children.

Mary was pre-deceased by her loving husband of 53 years Robert Leonard Rustin, son Bruce Benjamin Rustin, and siblings Gerald (Buddy), Roy, Richard (Dickie), Theresa White, and infant Paul.

Mary is survived by her children Deborah Rustin Cyr (husband Michael), Cheryl Mary Richard (husband Billy), James Rustin (wife Eva), siblings Barbara Desjardin, Bill Jr., Robert (Shorty), sisters-in-law Barbara Damboise and Deanna Damboise, grandchildren John S. House (wife Eva), Kristen Rustin Osgood (husband Brian), Kirby Richard (wife Carly), Keegan Richard, Megan Cyr, Jenna Cyr, Chanelle Cyr, Eva Deal (husband Jared), and Jon Rustin, along with some very special great grandchildren. She will be missed by a large group of family and friends far and wide and by two very special nieces, Amy Damboise and Sue Smith.

Mary loved to sing from the time she was a very young girl and shared her beautiful voice with so many. She won her first local singing contest at the age of 5, sang in local variety shows as a young teenager, and toured with local country western musicians where she was known as “The Little Songbird”. She sang throughout her life and if you were lucky enough to be a family member, you eagerly awaited her “Happy Birthday” serenade at 6am on the day of your birth: Every. Single. Year. Those loved ones’ birthdays will never be the same without that beautiful melody to begin another trip around the sun.

A lifelong Catholic, she was an active member of the Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Catholic Church. She loved God with all her being, heart, and soul. Mary embodied this love by living a life of service.

One cannot possibly write about every good deed Mary accomplished in her lifetime – there isn’t enough paper even with all the trees in Maine - nor can we count the number of lives she touched. She attempted to make every person she ever met feel so very special - which was evident by the number of cards she sent on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Whether it be a holiday (even the minor ones!), birthday, sympathy, or thinking of you occasion – she sent a special card with a personal hand-written message for every single one.

Mary volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout den mother, and a religious education leader. Mary gave selflessly to community services; she was a Milford ballot clerk for 25 years, she and Robert cooked fundraising breakfasts for Pine Tree Snowmobile Club facility upgrades, and many people got to witness the light in her and Robert’s eyes as they dressed as Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus for numerous years while providing gifts to families in need.

As most of you know, Mary was very passionate about reading, and as a result, she initiated the Community Reading Program at the Dr. Lewis S. Libby School in Milford over 25 years ago and planned the event every year.

She loved to spend time with others and to spread her faith through her non-judgmental, unconditional love of everyone. She was an amazing cook and baker – as to which most of the community can attest. Any ailment or church function would be the happy recipient of a Mary-made treat.

Mary was diagnosed with a dissecting aortic aneurism in 2009. Due to the short prognosis, she was immediately placed on hospice for which she was already a volunteer. Due to her evident need on earth for a much longer much period of time, she outlived her prognosis and graduated from hospice – due in no small part to Dr. Jim Van Kirk who balanced her medical needs with her vivacious wants with perfect balance. She then continued as a hospice care volunteer, providing hundreds and hundreds of hours of service throughout the next 10 years, including being a strong advocate of the prison hospice ministry.

Mary had a deep appreciation for life and wanted to be sure she brought joy, love, peace, and happiness to all. In many aspects, but in that one most of all, her life was wholly fulfilled. She is now soaring above us all as an angel in God’s kingdom.

Friends and family will visit from 1-3pm and 5-7 pm Monday November 4, 2019 at the Birmingham Funeral Home 438 Main St Old Town, ME. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9AM Tuesday at Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, 429 Main St. Old Town. Burial will be done privately on Wednesday at the Milford Cemetery. Immediately following the funeral mass all are invited to the Parish Hall for a light luncheon and continued fellowship.

As Mary was a paragon of charity, in lieu of donations, please help us fill the church with flowers to honor her life.