1928 – 2016

AUBURN — On the morning of Wednesday, June 22, Anne Libbey Meldrum passed away at Clover Health Center in Auburn, surrounded by human and canine family. Anne was known for her generosity, kindness, and concern for others. She was a true bon vivant and a self-described social butterfly, consistently available for fun gatherings and lively, lingering conversations. Anne was always game for new adventures and had the ability to have a hearty laugh at her own flaws and foibles.

Anne was born in Lewiston, the youngest child of W. Scott Libbey and Helen McCarthy Libbey. From infancy she spent summers in Wayne on land acquired by her grandfather that she, in turn, taught her children and grandchildren to love. Her Meldrum family later acquired a parcel of that beautiful property and built their own seasonal cabin on the shore of Lake Pocasset.

Anne attended Lewiston schools and The Brimmer and May School in Boston while her father was assigned to military work there during World War II. She also attended college preparatory courses at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine. At Gould, she had leading roles in theatrical productions, showing a flair for the dramatic that many of her loved ones would say persisted for a lifetime. Like all the women in her mother’s family, including her two older sisters, she attended Trinity College in Washington, D.C., where she majored in social work and enjoyed many of the exciting activities that the capital city had to offer. After graduation, Anne spent a year as a social worker in Boston at an institution for homeless children.

During her senior year in college, a handsome officer in the U.S. Marines, Philip H. Meldrum of Buffalo, N.Y., began to court Anne. They married and established a home together. The couple celebrated 63 years of marriage in 2015.

After 10 years living near relatives in Wellesley, Mass., Anne and Phil moved their three youngsters back to Lewiston so that Phil, who had studied engineering and business, could join the family textile firm, the W.S. Libbey Company. As her children progressed through the Lewiston schools, Anne attended their countless musical concerts, science fairs, and plays, always ready with a camera to record proud moments. Later, she encouraged her children’s choices as they each found their true vocational callings.

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Anne was the most loyal friend. She learned to skate on the pond at Bates College with a group of girls who called themselves “the silver blades.” The pals stayed connected over many decades, as most of them went on to attend college together and they continued to visit each other well into their eighties.

Anne was active in the community. She raised money for many worthy endeavors including the Lewiston junior and senior high school bands, the CMMC Hospital Association, the Woman’s Guild of St. Joseph’s Parish and The Arthritis Foundation. She volunteered as a literacy tutor and was a companion to people with developmental disabilities. She offered help and assistance to many people in both large and small ways, often acting on a need without being asked.

Anne shared her accumulated wisdom with her family and those close to her. Long before Wikipedia, anyone could just ask her for an answer from her amazing memory. Her knowledge of the arts, culture, history, politics and current events was vast and had both depth and breadth.

Well ahead of the age of e-mail and social media, Anne functioned as the “family and friends switchboard,” letting everyone know what a distant cousin or childhood pal was up to. She was constantly composing notes and cards of sympathy or congratulations.

Anne had a special love for animals. While in her early 80s, she stopped her car and jumped out to save a neighbor’s dog from a rabid groundhog. She taught everyone around her to identify many species of native birds and wildflowers. She appreciated beautiful gardens and the people who tended them.

When she was young, Anne’s parents instilled in her an appreciation for traveling abroad, which continued with many family trips to Europe, especially after her middle son moved to Germany and her grandchildren were born there.

Anne came from a devoted family and with her husband, Phil, she created a loving family of her own. She is survived by her husband, Phil Meldrum of Auburn; son, Brian Meldrum of Brunswick; daughter, Helen Meldrum of Somerville, Mass.; son, Michael Meldrum of Gelsenkirchen, Germany; grandson, John Meldrum of Wesel, Germany; and granddaughter, Melissa Meldrum of Berlin, Germany. Four of her siblings predeceased Anne; her remaining brother, Paul Libbey, lives in Lewiston. She also has several beloved nieces who have stayed close to her and to her husband, Phil.

We wish to thank all those who visited, sent notes, and made phone calls during Anne’s time at Clover Health Center. We also wish to thank the special staff there, wonderful additional helpers Joyce and Nanci, and Androscoggin Hospice for their genuine care and concern.

A video tribute will be made available at the Albert & Burpee Funeral Service of Lewiston website: http://www.albert-burpee.com.


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