Avis Cripps Obituary (1925 - 2009)

NORTH MONMOUTH - Avis Hennigar Cripps, 84, of North Main Street died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, at her home. She was born on April 22, 1925, in Noel, Nova Scotia, the daughter of Carl Bailey Hennigar and Anna Berry Hennigar. After the death of her father, the family moved to Maine on April 4, 1929. Her mother, Anna, later married Irving Leighton and the family settled in Winthrop when Avis was 6 years old. She attended Winthrop schools and graduated from Winthrop High School, class of 1943. She married John Cripps on May 11, 1946, and in 1949 the couple moved to North Monmouth, where they started a family and raised three sons. Avis attended night classes at Gates Business College and worked in local businesses, retiring from Progressive Distributors Inc. in 1985. Her hobbies and interests included old fashioned rug hooking, sewing, quilting and working in her flower and vegetable gardens. She enjoyed canning and was famous for her bread-and-butter pickles, relishes, jams and jellies. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, John, in 2001; a sister, Ardis H. Gile, in 1967; and a nephew, Kevin Gile. Avis is survived by three sons, Dennis, of North Monmouth, Dale and granddaughter Emily Takahashi, of Honolulu, and David and his wife, Darlene, and granddaughter Amanda, of North Monmouth; a sister, Barbara Smith, of Penacook, N.H.; as well as may other family members and friends who will miss her dearly. She will also be missed by her dogs, Ginger the Queen, Frankie the King, Nutmeg and Cinnamon. Visiting will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, at St. Francis Xavier Church, Winthrop. Spring burial will be in Glenside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Maine Parkinson Society, P.O. Box 2382, South Portland ME 04106. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.khrfuneralhomes.com