ROCKPORT — Heather Ann Bilodeau went into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, April 19, at the Sussman House in Rockport, after a long, healing journey with ovarian cancer.
Heather was born in Green Bay, Wis., on June 20, 1967, to Richard W. Reynolds and Susan M. (Schoen) Reynolds, and was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wis. Her baptismal godparents are Dick Schoen and Sally Schoen.
Heather married her soul mate, Bob Bilodeau, on July 14, 2007, in Thomaston. She was previously married to Robert Jack from the Bangor area.
Heather served her country in the United States Air Force (1987-1991) while stationed in Bitburg, Germany. Heather frequently worked on the flight line and was in love with the sounds of the F-15 fighter jets preparing for takeoff.
Heather had a depth of feeling for serving others as a soul mate, stepmother, daughter, friend, sister or auntie. She expressed these feelings through her artwork, including art journals, junk journals, mixed-media projects, knitting socks, acts of kindness and always thinking of what personal touch someone else needed. Heather enjoyed her solitude, and had a lot of love beneath her surface to share with others.
She was an avid reader and cook, and proud of her “world-famous macaroni and cheese with crunchies” dish. She was also a founding member of the BBBFDE (Bilodeau Birthday Bash and Father’s Day Extravaganza). Heather enjoyed watching nature come to life during the springtime, and looked forward to the daffodils, trillium and lady’s slippers blooming each year.
Heather owned the arts and crafts store, Local Talents of Maine, in Thomaston in the 1990s, and more recently the C.R.A.F.T. (Creative Randomness And Fun Times) Arts Studio in Union. Heather was passionate about supporting children’s literacy and enjoyed volunteering at the Vose Public Library in Union and served on their board of trustees.
Heather combined her love of crafts with her desire to help others by making a wide assortment of craft projects from recycled books to help raise money for the library. Heather was also passionate about women’s rights initiatives and helping veterans, the homeless and at-risk, especially children.
During the past year, even when she was hurting so much, she thought of others and volunteered to knit “listening dolls” for at-risk children, making junk journals as thank-you gifts for family, and helped to create special memories at Christmas and Easter for the family to cherish after she was no longer on Earth with us.
Heather is survived by her husband, Bob Bilodeau, of Union; and stepson, Tyler Bilodeau, of Rockport; her mother, Sue Hebel; sister, Mary Reynolds; brother, James Reynolds; nieces, Damia Reynolds, Charlotte Lodl; nephew, Trenton Lodl; brother-in-law, Don Lodl; many aunts, uncles and cousins, all of the greater Green Bay and Oshkosh, Wis., areas; two paternal cousins, Colleen Engle and Lori Beatty of Dayton, Ohio; her mother-in-law, Joline Bilodeau; father-in-law, Roger Bilodeau; grandmother-in-law, Rita Janelle, of Auburn; and her husband’s aunts, uncles and cousins.
Heather was predeceased by her father, Dick Reynolds; paternal aunt and uncle, Claudia and Dale Chambers; maternal aunt, Gail Stryzewski; and maternal uncle, Jerry Schoen.
Heather now walks with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and sings with the angels praising the Triune God Forever in Heaven.
The family would like to extend many, many thanks for all of the prayers given by friends, family members and friends unknown for comfort and the ability to live each day over the past year.
Special thank-you to Dr. Barb MacDonald, the Home Hospice and Sussman House staff, friends, Joan and Richard Vargas and for all of you who are helping to heal our broken hearts.
Heather A. Bilodeau
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