PORTLAND – Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Constance Louise (Rathbun) Foster, 78, reached the end of her wonderful life on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Connie never met a stranger and touched everyone she met with her generous heart and vivacious spirit. To say she’ll be missed would be an understatement.

Connie was born March 6, 1943, to Thatcher and Hazel (Meade) Rathbun in Lewiston. A Mayflower descendant, she was raised in a large and boisterous family in Litchfield and Bowdoin. Connie was graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1961, after which she briefly attended Farmington State Teachers College. After graduation from Bernard’s School of Hair Fashion, Connie enjoyed her long career as a hairstylist and salon owner alongside her sister-in-law, Brenda.

Connie married Ronald D. Foster in 1965. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage in Hopatcong, N.J., Litchfield, Maine, and Port Charlotte, Fla. In Ron’s high school yearbook, Connie showed her omniscience when she wrote “to a wonderful guy I will never forget.”

Connie was a passionate and highly skilled artisan and craftsperson developing expertise in beading jewelry, quilting, ceramics, painting, costume making, metalsmithing, and paper arts. She launched numerous successful businesses to bring these passions to others through teaching and providing access to tools, techniques, and supplies.

Following in the footsteps of her paternal grandfather, Connie was a proud member of the Litchfield Fair Association and Farmers Club playing numerous roles in supporting the annual Litchfield Fair. She treasured her annual vacation with family and friends in Stone Harbor, N.J., and winters with Ron and friends in Port Charlotte, Fla. She modeled how to be a loyal friend, independent woman, and local organizer to her treasured large brood of daughters and “adopted” kids. Living life to the fullest, Connie was tireless and engaged.

Connie is survived by her husband, Ron Foster, and their daughters Kimberly Foster and her husband Willie Stewart of Windham, Diane Foster and her husband Thomas Lippmann of Durham, N.H., and “adopted daughter” Audrey Danforth of Westbrook; her grandchildren, Samuel and Tessa of Durham, Olivia, Samantha, and William of Windham; her siblings Madelyn Walrod of Mount Arlington, N.J., Marilyn Good of Morgantown, Pa., William Rathbun of Lewiston, and Bentley Rathbun of Auburn; and a multitude of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and sister Susan.

Connie fought and overcame several significant health challenges over the years. In the last several months, Connie benefitted from an army of care provided by the Seaside Rehabilitation Center staff, her immediate family, nieces Kristina and Amy, Audrey Danforth, and a long list of friends. The family would like to offer our most sincere gratitude to the Seaside Rehabilitation Center its tremendous support as she courageously fought this last battle. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com

A funeral service will be held at 1p.m., on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at BRAGDON-FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 707 Main St, Monmouth, Maine. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service from 12 Noon -1 p.m. Out of concern for everyone’s health and safety, the family respectfully asks that those with underlying health concerns, the unvaccinated, or those from far away join us through Facebook live on Finley Funeral Home’s Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/FINLEYFUNERALHOME.

Donations made in Connie’s memory to the Heart of Hope Charitable Fund who strive to make the lives of women and men who are battling breast cancer a little easier would be welcome: http://www.heartofhopecharity.com.

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