Portland Mildred Joyce Richardson, 86 years of age went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 28, 2019. She was born on June 18, 1932, the youngest daughter of five children to the late Helena (Howe) Payne and La Baron B. Payne of Springhill, NB Canada. She was educated in the New Brunswick school system and a member of the Anglican Church.
At the age of 18 with her older sister Ethel the two came to the U.S. following after their big sister Josephine who was already married living in Portland. Mildred gained employment as a nurses-aide and worked several years at Maine Medical Center. While living with her sister ‘Jo’ she met her husband, Rupert A. Richardson who was the younger brother of her brother-in-law Harold (Jo’s husband).
Sisters would marry brothers. The young couple married in September of 1957 and at the time of Rupert’s death they were married 53 years. To this union 3 sons were born.
Mildred was an attentive and doting mom to her children and to her sister Jo’s children. The two sisters were inseparable and vowed to always watch-over each other’s children. This vow was kept to their death.
She loved her family and was a constant caregiver, many times to the neglect of her own health. She lovingly made this sacrifice. She loved people and everyone loved her.
She was the ‘favorite’ aunt of many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed. Mildred ran her own In-Home Daycare for 20 years.
Generations of family’s children were watched and cared for, by ‘Ritchie’ who she was affectionately known by young children. She was known as a loving, tender, caring, child care provider. She would give advice to the young mothers about their children.
She loved the Boston Red Sox and would stay up late at night to watch a game. She enjoyed traveling and in the later years her trips to Ontario to visit her brothers. Mildred was a member of the Order Eastern Star-Mount Lebanon Chapter #8, Den Mother of Den 4, and chaperone for Fifth Maine Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.
For over 26 years (1992) Mildred was a member of the Williams Temple Church. In March of 1998 she officially became ‘Mother Richardson’ the senior mother of the church. She was faithful to her church until her death, serving in various ministries until her health began to decline; The Mother’s Board, Serving Communion, Hospitality, Nursing Home Ministry, Women’s Fellowship and The Comfort Care Ministry.
Predeceased by her parents; husband, Rupert, sisters; Ethel and Josephine, brothers; Gerald and Gordon. Left to mourn her passing; 3 sons: John (Pamela) of Colombia, SC, Paul (Katherine) of Valencia, CA and Michael of Portland, 3 grandchildren; Tonya (Robert) McCree, John Richardson II, James Richardson, 4 great-grandchildren; Christina McCree, Kayla McCree, Veronica McCree & Daniel McCree, and 2 sister-in-laws; Phyllis (Richardson) Blackshear of North Carolina and Gertrude (Richardson) Duncan of Portland. She also leaves a host of nieces and nephews, relatives, family friends, and the Williams Temple Church Family to mourn her passing.
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