Florence Bennett Cleaves Wile-Hodsdon

Yarmouth - Florence Bennett Wile-Hodsdon, a longtime resident of Yarmouth, died on April 30, 2014 at Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick.

She was born June 7, 1922 in Yarmouth to George T. and Harriette Bennett Cleaves. She graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1939, attended Northeastern Business College, and began working for the Union Mutual Insurance Company in 1940.

On Christmas Day, 1941, she married Lester R. Wile. In 1943, she took the longest maternity leave in Union Mutual history, returning to work in 1963. During those twenty years, she and her husband raised three children, she worked as a substitute teacher, an office assistant for two local doctors, and she was an active volunteer in her beloved Yarmouth community: spotting planes in World War II, aiding local scouting troops, helping establish Yarmouth’s first hot lunch program, serving on the community health program, and delivering meals to seniors. She was a member of the First Parish Church and held several committee positions. After returning to work at Unum as an executive secretary, she continued to serve at the First Parish Church as Chair of the Board of Deacons, and she was a member of the Yarmouth Lions Club. She loved music, and played the piano, sang in the church choir, and performed in many of Yarmouth’s local variety shows. She also enjoyed boating with Lester on Casco Bay.

She retired from Unum in 1984. Three years after Les’ death in 1985, she married Richard H. Hodsdon. They traveled extensively, bought a winter home in Lake Wales, Florida and she learned to play golf.

Upon Dick’s death in 2003, she continued being active in the Lions’ Club, the AmVets Ladies Auxiliary, and the Yarmouth Historical Society. Her son, Roger, became her caregiver until October 2013, when she moved to Cadigan Lodge in Topsham.

She is survived by three children: Richard Wile and his wife Mary Lee of Brunswick, Jaye (Wile) Sewall and her husband Peter of Brunswick, Roger Wile of Cumberland; two grandchildren: Laurie Wile, deceased, and Samuel Sewall and his wife Margaret of Brunswick; four step-children: Lee Hodsdon and his wife Carol, David Hodsdon, Jill (Hodsdon) Holley and her husband Jereal, and John Hodsdon and his wife Caroline; two step-grandchildren: Micah Brown and his wife, Amanda, and Jeremy Brown and his wife, Daniele Lantagne; two great-grandchildren, numerous step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at the First Parish Church in Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with Flo’s family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CHANS Home Health Care, 60 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011.

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