Cumberland- Hope Shain Foster, born August 1, 1927 in Biddeford, Maine, died peacefully at home in Cumberland, at age 91, October 22, 2018, surrounded by her family. Hope and her husband of 67 years, Herbert S. Foster, Jr., have lived in the same home in Cumberland, since soon after they married on June 16, 1951. She is survived by her husband, Herb, and their children, Stan and his wife Betty, Steven and his wife Donna, Wendy Russell and her husband Dennis, Don and his wife Joanna, Suzanne Kennedy and her husband Mike, thirteen grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, and a large extended family. She is also survived by her sisters, Debbie Towns (St. Louis) and Sandra DeLuca (Windham), and brother, Rodney Shain (Sanford). She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Ethel Shain, her sister Nelda and brother Stanley. Hope graduated from Hallowell High School, and earned a BS degree in 1949 from Gorham State Teacher's College. She arrived in Cumberland in 1950, to teach thirty-seven first and second graders in a one-room brick schoolhouse with a pot-bellied woodstove and a two-hole outhouse. One of eight one-room schoolhouses in the district at the time, the former school is now home to the Cumberland Historical Society, which is among many civic organizations in which Hope Foster served as an active leader. As a teacher, substitute teacher, and teacher's aide up until her 90th year, she helped educate four generations of students. She was active in the Cumberland Congregational Church for 65 years, leading kitchen crews for Easter sunrise service breakfasts, among many other events. Always active in facilitating learning, she led Cub Scout, Girl Scout, Brownie and 4-H groups. Throughout the years, she served as president of the Lioness Club, Cumberland Historical Society and Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire Department. She served as a volunteer on Cumberland's Recycling Committee and transcribed historical journal manuscripts in the collection of the Prince Memorial Library. For over two decades she served as a docent at the Cumberland County Fair Farm Museum, baking apple pies and biscuits on a wood cook stove while greeting visitors. Hope Foster most enjoyed her teaching, social engagement and volunteer service activities. She was a booster and number one fan of the Greely girls' basketball team and they have dedicated their 2018-19 season to Hope Foster. The family wishes to thank Jessica and Southern Maine Hospice.
Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Friday, October 26, 2018 at the Cumberland Congregational Church, 282 Main St. Cumberland, ME.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Cumberland Congregational Church, followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Prince Memorial Library or Firefighters for Kids, c/o the Cumberland Fire Department
Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign Hope’s online guest book.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18