Abigail’s Obituary Abigail Virginia Long, 26, of Cape Elizabeth – an artist, photographer and beloved daughter, sister and friend – died Jan. 9, 2019, at her home. Abbie, as she was known, was born Dec.
4, 1992, in Lebanon, N.H., to Beth and Alan Long. She was kind-hearted, multitalented and generous, and she also struggled with mental illness for much of her life. “Abbie was the strongest person I knew,” her mother said.
“She was a warrior through everything”. Her parents moved to Florida to be closer to family when Abbie was 18 months old. They describe her as a sweet, creative and extremely intelligent child who loved books long before she became a voracious reader.
Abbie was a successful competitive cheerleader, swimmer and cross-country runner in Florida and was extremely popular in high school – her 16th birthday party was a huge social event. Her family relocated to Maine in 2010, and Abbie started her senior year at Cape Elizabeth High School. She continued to pursue photography – which she had discovered a love for while taking college courses in Florida – with great determination and pride.
Her talent in photography and art in general led her to continue her education at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Abbie returned home after freshman year though because of debilitating anxiety. She was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and depression and went through numerous treatment programs and therapies.
Her parents said the struggle to find Abbie proper help was intense and frustrating. “She was the most beautiful person, inside and out, and I wanted to be just like her and tried to copy her all the time when we were little,” said Sarah, 23, who took frequent walks with Abbie to Fort Williams, a place Sarah says her sister felt peaceful. Abbie always held true to her faith in people.
“She was always trying to help someone,” said her father, who was her fiercest advocate. Her parents and siblings described Abbie as “a gentle old soul” who freely expressed her love. “She told me she loved me all the time,” said her mother, who is known for her unconditional love for Abbie.
Abigail also loved her cat Gandalf, aka ‘G;’ good food – she was a vegetarian and foodie who loved to cook and bake; reading and libraries; alternative music; Barney, the purple dinosaur TV character and all things Harry Potter; photography – her favorite model was her sister Paige and together they created imaginative settings; M&M’S and Coffee By Design coffee; fashion and especially sneakers – a fondness she shared with her brother Noah – and Vera Wang Princess perfume; and being creative – Abbie made storybooks with Sarah as a child and designed the family’s annual Christmas card for many years. She also was passionate about keeping up with current events and loved the Portland Museum of Art and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, as well as exploring Portland, Portsmouth and local beaches. Abbie is survived by her parents, her sisters Sarah (and partner Nicholas Garcia) and Paige, and brother Noah, all of Cape Elizabeth; grandparents, Virginia DeLorenzo of Edgewater, Fla.
; Janet Long of Palm Coast, Fla. ; and George Long of Cape Elizabeth; and “amazing uncles,” aunts and numerous cousins. Her papa James DeLorenzo died in 2006.
Arrangements are by Hobbs Funeral Home of South Portland. A celebration of life will be held at a later date at Fort Williams. The family asks that donations be made to Spring Harbor Hospital, 123 Andover Road, Westbrook, ME 04092.
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