Anne Ordway, 98

The reflection of a person’s life is measured in the number of people one has inspired in some way. If this is true, Anne Ordway needs an ocean to reflect all who she has touched in this life. If you could sum up her approach to life, it would be with the phrase, “I just met the NICEST person!”

Anne (Whitehurst) Ordway, 98, passed away peacefully on June 17, in Whitefish. Anne was born in Biddeford, Maine, on December 5, 1927, to Albert and Ruth Whitehurst. She grew up in Saco, Maine, and attended Thornton Academy. Anne married Robert Sumner Ordway on June 21, 1947. The couple spent the first few years of their married life in Old Town, Maine, where they welcomed their first two children, Greg and Tom. They moved to Glastonbury, Conn. in the early 50’s and David and Jayne joined the family. Anne loved her time in Connecticut and made many life-long friends. She and Bob were active in the community and Anne was a volunteer in the Hartford School district. Their home on Water Street in South Glastonbury was always full of people and activities. They hosted many BBQs in the backyard along the banks of Roaring Brook, where friends and neighbors played games and enjoyed Anne’s homemade bread, cowboy cookies, and homemade ice cream. Many folks from all over the world were welcomed into their home, and the house was always buzzing with laughter and conversation. When Bob retired, it was time to return to the old farmhouse in Freeport, Maine, that they had purchased years before.

Maine was Anne’s happy place, and upon returning to Freeport, she and Bob renovated the old farmhouse and turned it into a beautiful and welcoming home, surrounded by gardens and flowers. They soon began hosting a bed and breakfast where they welcomed many guests and Anne reveled in making new friends and sharing her generous hospitality and delicious meals. Many people will remember their time at The Old Red Farm and they would return year after year. She was also known for her flower gardens and her patch of lupine along Desert Road was the subject of much admiration and many photos over the years.

Anne loved people. She had a deep appreciation of their life stories and had a way of getting folks to open up and share about their lives. She nurtured friendships with frequent phone calls, thoughtful gifts, and visits. She would ‘drop in’ to visit complete strangers because she had noticed their beautiful flowers or interesting house. Many people, over the years, would hear the phrase, “Hi. I’m Anne”, and a new friendship would be born. Anne touched people with her open heart and generous, gregarious spirit.

Anne was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and her oldest son, Greg. She is survived by her children Tom and Debbie, David and Kim, Jayne and Doug, Nadine; grandchildren Michael (Kelly), Luke, Clay, Kimberly, Kathryn, Shonna, Gregory (Ally); and great-grandchildren Sage, Isis, Aubrey, Colin, Piper, Hayden, Rylan, and Theo.

Anne spent the last few years of her life in Montana, to be near her children. Services will take place at a later date. To celebrate Anne Ordway’s life, the family appreciates donations to Graceful Days End of Life Home. Your contributions help create a peaceful and caring environment for those at the end of life. Donate online at: gracefuldays.org. Alternatively, Donations may be sent to: Graceful Days, PO Box 797, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.