Annette Katherine Savage

Annette Savage, age 87, of Buckfield, Maine, passed away of congestive heart failure at her home with family at her side, on Monday, March 25, 2024. She was born in Ossipee, NH, on December 15, 1936, a daughter to Ernest Harris Bean and Zita Lavina Jordan. She spent her childhood years and attended elementary school in Ossipee, New Hampshire, and she went on to attend Kennett High School in North Conway, NH.

In her younger adult life, Annette spent 14 years employed at Gould & Scammon Shoe (Auburn, ME) in the packing room. She then spent a few years as the proud and independent owner of the North Auburn Cash Market where she met Sheldon Savage. She and Sheldon were married at the North Auburn Methodist Church on October 6, 1979. They continued to co-own and operate the market for almost 25 more years before retiring. During this time, they earned the reputation of having the BEST pizzas and italians around! Shortly after retirement, Annette was restless and missed her customers, so she went to work as a cashier at Walmart in Auburn, ME, for an additional 14 years. During that time, many of her customers from the North Auburn Cash Market would make it a point to go through her register when she was working, which pleased her very much.

In addition to spending time interacting with customers, Annette enjoyed reading, shopping trips, frequent returns to her hometown in New Hampshire, and storytelling. She also collected Campbell’s Soup memorabilia, which adorned her home. What Annette enjoyed the most was spending time with her incredibly large and close-knit family. Yearly Family Christmases were important to Annette. When covid hit in 2020, she moved the traditional December Family Christmas to “Christmas in July” and never went back to December. This became a new family tradition.

Annette was an 18 year breast cancer survivor. She met the challenge with all of the strength and dignity she met all challenges in life. When she was 85, she agreed to participate in genetic testing not because it would help her, but because it would provide important information for her family.

Annette leaves behind six siblings, Rhoda McKinley, Benjamin Bean, Clifford Bean, Patricia Turcotte, (Roy) Dexter Jordan, and Wendy Herrick.

She is survived by her three children, Karen A. Bisson (husband, L. Mike Bisson) of Turner, ME, James R. Sprague of Wales, ME, and Cheryl L. Lang (husband, Martin P. Lang) of Wayne, ME. She also leaves behind two stepchildren, Philip L. Savage (wife, D’Ann Savage) of Buckfield, ME, and Cynthia M. Gurschick (partner, Terry Lord) of S.Paris, ME.

In addition, Annette leaves behind her grandchildren, Toby L. Bisson (spouse, Angie Bisson) of Greene, ME, Jeremy L. Bisson (significant other, Terry Hanson) of New Gloucester, ME, Joseph A. Bisson (spouse, Katrina Bisson) of Minot, ME, Amy Corson (spouse, Shawn Corson) of Sumner, ME, David Savage (spouse, Brianne Savage) of Sharpsburg, GA, Christopher Savage of Hartford, ME, Bobbi Jo Hodgdon (spouse, Jason Hodgdon) of S. Paris, ME, Stacy Goyette (spouse, Sean Goyette) of Greene, ME, Jim Sprague Jr. (spouse, Amber Bender) of Auburn, ME, Jason Sprague of Wales, ME, Jared Walker (partner, Katie Foster) of Wales, ME, Matthew T. Lang of Turner, ME, and Cassandra M. Manson (spouse, Christopher Manson) of Bowdoin, ME.

In addition to her 13 grandchildren, Annette leaves behind 33 great grandchildren, Jordan Carey, Dustin Bisson, Elizabeth Corson, Ryan Corson, Troy Bisson, Dylan Bisson, Anastasia Bisson, Leah Scruggs, Cheyenne Bisson, Ashlyn Scruggs, Chloe Hodgdon, Anya Hodgdon, Sean Scruggs, Ethan Burnham, Dylan Walker, Braelynn Melanson, Riley Walker, Oliver Foster, Rowen Walker, Wyatt Bender, Dylan Weymouth, Cooper Bisson, Kaylee Johnson, Johnathan Goyette, Julian Manson, Luca Manson, Welles Manson, Willa Manson, Aiden Savage, Chase Savage, Mackenzie Savage, Katelyn Savage and Lincoln Walker.

Annette also leaves behind four great great grandchildren, Hunter Carey, Kason Carey, Colton Bisson, and Autumn Short. In addition to this incredibly large generational family, she leaves behind several beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Annette is predeceased by two of her siblings, Minnie White and Beverly Grondin, and Beverly’s husband, Arthur Grondin, as well as another brother-in-law, Berman McKinley. Her daughter-in-law, Harriet Sprague, and stepson, Lynn Savage, also predeceased her.

Annette’s and Sheldon’s beloved dachshund, Mindy, predeceased her earlier last year.

We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful caregiving providers from Androscoggin Home Health Care & Hospice. A special thank you also goes to Patty Corson who supported our family helping with caregiving needs throughout the last several weeks.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Annette K. Savage to one of the following:

To contribute to the Androscoggin Home Health Care & Hospice, mail donations to 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, ME 04240 or visit androscoggin.org

To contribute to the “All is Welles” Organization that provides opportunities for inclusion for people with differing abilities, visit www.alliswelles.com.

On Saturday, April 6th, the family will have visitation from 11 AM - 1 PM at the Fortin Group Funeral Home at 217 Turner Street, Auburn, ME. Directly following the visitation hours, at 1 PM, Chaplain Dean Lachance will officiate a Memorial Service.

A family graveside service will be held at Marr Cemetery in Washington, ME, at a later date.