PORTLAND – Florence C. Waite, of Summit Park Avenue, passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, Feb. 24, at Mercy Hospital, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She was born in Maspeth, Queens, N.Y., on July 22, 1927, the daughter of Frederick and Catherine Dickmann. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in New York in 1945.

On Sunday, June 1, 1947, Florence married Norman P. Waite of Leeds, marking the beginning of a wonderful marriage and life together for the next 57 years. Florence and Norman shared a unique and inspiring love and devotion to each other. Theirs was a story of a beautiful, young New York City girl meeting and falling in love with a handsome man from the Maine countryside. After marrying, they spent eight years in Liberty, N.Y., before moving to Summit Park Avenue in Portland in 1958, where they raised their family and have resided ever since.

She worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. for many years, and retired from UNUM after 20 years of service. She also worked many Christmas seasons at L.L. Bean.

She made a beautiful, warm, loving home filled with tradition and family history for her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Florence enjoyed time with her family – visiting her husband’s homestead “HILHOLME,” in Leeds, enriching her children in art, music, sewing, education, and craftwork, and taking family trips with her grandchildren. She enjoyed baking and cooking; she made every holiday and birthday special for her family. Florence was active in the outdoors gardening and walking with her husband.

She also liked to read, sew and vacation on Androscoggin Lake. Florence’s love, caring and devotion, along with her sense of humor and integrity, made her a wonderful wife; her supportive, helpful, knowledgeable ways made her a wonderful mother and grandmother; her kindness made her a loving daughter and sister; and her friendly, easy way made her an admirable friend.

Surviving is her devoted husband of 57 years, Norman P. Waite; a son, Norman and his wife, Louise, of Windsor, Conn.; two daughters, Priscilla and her husband, John Rundin, of Portland, and Debra and her husband, Charles Carroll, of Shrewsbury, Mass.; seven grandchildren, Jason and Andrea Donahue, Sarah Shlatz, David Waite, William, James and Victoria Carroll; and six great-grandchildren.