West Paris – Florice Mae Cummings Foster, 53, died Dec. 23, from cancer at Ledgeview Nursing Home surrounded by family.

Florie, as she was affectionately known, lived most of her life in West Paris. She graduated from Oxford Hills High School in 1972.

Throughout her working life, she served as a caregiver and aide to children and the elderly for local businesses, including a doctor’s practice, a boarding home and a home health care agency. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Jefferson Chapter of Bryant Pond.

Although married and divorced with no children of her own, she was a doting “second mother” to many, especially her nieces and nephew and younger siblings. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend, always ready to help those around her. She liked to enjoy life, focusing on the positive side, always ready with a joke or kind-hearted tease.

She suffered a brain injury in 1996, but did not let that stop her from sharing her gifts of love and friendship with so many. While in the care of her parents, she participated in day programs at WestSide and Montello in Lewiston/Auburn, often helping the nurses take care of other residents.

She is survived by her parents, Roenell and Elizabeth Cummings of West Paris; a brother, Roenell Cummings Jr., and his wife, MaryEllen; children and grandchildren, also of West Paris; a sister, Trudie Hazelton, and her husband, Steve, and daughter of Oxford, a sister, Diane Gaudreau, and her husband, Tom, and two daughters of Bryant Pond; and a sister, Maylene Mitchell, and her husband, Erik, of Alna.