Obituary: Frances “Fanny” Charles Bibeau

PORTLAND – Frances Charles Bibeau passed away peacefully on Aug. 4, 2022 at The Cedars. She was 93 years old.

Frances was born on Sept. 26, 1928 in South Portland to Arthur and Violet Burnham. In 1946, she graduated from Scarborough High School, where she was a member of many clubs and teams, especially enjoying membership in the basketball and cheerleading teams and the 4-H Club. She went on to Westbrook College, where she earned her business degree.

As a child, she spent her summers at the family camp on Thomas Pond in Casco, where eventually she met her soulmate, Robert Bibeau. After a happy courtship, Robert and Frances married and lived for several years on Vaughn Street in Portland, while she worked at the Portland Water District and Robert at a Cadillac dealership in Falmouth. In 1959, they moved to North Windham to start their own business, Bibeau’s Fly Shop, where Frances worked alongside Robert, equal in business and fishing talent. She and Robert grew their business, which became a popular meeting spot for fishermen and fisherwomen to spin tall fishing tales of the Sebago Lake region. The Bibeau Killer, a streamer fly created by Robert, became a mainstay in local fly boxes, it’s red head a tribute to Frances’ fiery red hair. She enjoyed seeing the many pictures of her customers’ catches posted on the wall and quipped they were all caught on the Bibeau Killer. She and Robert taught fly-tying classes together for the better part of a decade, and after Robert’s passing, she continued for at least a decade more. She said the years they spent building their business and tying flies together were some of their best.

Growing up, Frances had an adventurous spirit that followed her into adulthood. She would tell stories of growing up on Broadturn Road, where her father worked a small farm and blacksmith shop. One summer, Frances sought her father’s permission to enter the “Powder Puff,” an all-female auto race at Beech Ridge Speedway. When her father promptly denied the request, Frances entered the race anyway under the alias “Candy Irish,” another nod to her red hair and heritage. She raced well and successfully avoided her father’s detection. This sense of adventure continued with her family outings. On many occasions, Frances would pack her family, all the fishing gear, and a homemade boiled dinner and travel to a favorite fishing spot. Other times, she would buy Amato’s Italian sandwiches for the family and head for the White Mountains of New Hampshire for a day of hiking and exploring.

Living in Windham on seven acres of land, Frances and family cultivated two huge gardens, raised chickens (before they were in vogue), including Archie the rooster, along with cats too many to count. The “Turnip Man” showing up with his tractor to plow the fields every spring became an annual rite. No payments were ever exchanged, just turnips and plowing for quality, hand-tied streamers. Frances was a resourceful Mainer, baking dessert for her family nearly every night, canning hundreds of jars of jam, tomatoes, string beans, piccalilli relish, and any other bounty from the gardens. She was also an unsung chemist, dying bucktails all colors of the rainbow to satisfy her fly-tying customers. You needed only to place the order and come back in two days.

One of Frances’ greatest loves was fishing, and the annual family outing to Russell’s Motor Lodge on Rangeley Lake was among her favorites. During these vacations, Frances made wonderful breakfasts, including her famous blueberry turnovers, enjoyed big family dinners, and fished all over Rangeley Lake in between. When fishing was done, the horseshoe tournaments were legendary, and poker games often went too late into the night. Frances came to the card table with her yellow purse full of coins, affectionately known as the “vault.” Over the years, many more family fishing trips would be made to the Rangeley Region, Sebago, Moosehead, New York, and Colorado.

On her 80th birthday, Frances sat in Field Box seats at Fenway Park and watched her beloved Red Sox take on the Yankees in late September. She bore a smile the entire time. Frances was an avid New England sports fan and the Sox were here favorite. Seeing the Sox win it all in 2004 was an absolute thrill.

Frances had an unending love for her family and was predeceased by her husband Robert and her siblings Charles, William, and Esther. She is survived by her daughter Rochelle (David) of South Casco, her son Bobby of South Casco, and her son Arthur (Deborah) of Portland as well as her grandchildren Robyn (Mike), Catrina, Sam, and Henry, and great-grandchildren Isabella and Cillian. The family would like to thank The Cedars for their care and compassion, especially during these past few weeks. The family is also grateful to Hospice of Southern Maine for their gentle assistance and guidance. Visiting Hour will be held Wednesday, August 10, from 9 to 10 a.m., at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham, a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Online condolences can be expressed at DolbyBlaisSegee.com.

Memorial donations may be made to:

The Cedars – Activity Fund

630 Ocean Avenue

Portland, ME 04103

Hospice of Southern Maine

390 U.S. Route One

Scarborough, ME 04074