Leila Mae Babbidge, 84, passed away peacefully at Waldo County Hospital in Belfast Maine on July 19, 2022 after a short illness.

Born on Islesboro, Maine, January 2, 1938, she was the third of nine children born to Gertrude McLaughlin and Fernald Leach.

She graduated from Islesboro Central School and except for a few winters in Florida and one in California, lived her entire life on the island. She worked for most of the summer people, cooking and cleaning and serving at dinner parties.  She also cooked for several summers at the Tarratine Yacht Club and was known best for her famous bacon cheeseburgers. 

She married Frederick Babbidge in 1957.  They had three children. Leila was a loving mother to Terry Jr, Peggy and Bruce, a grandmother to David and Leila Pike, Kevin Babbidge, Silas and Betsy Babbidge.  Recently, she became a great grandmother to Sadie Kleiman Pike, whom she adored.  

Leila had a passion for fashion.  She had a keen sense of style and could instantly spot quality clothing at the local consignment shops.  One good find of a Ralph Lauren, Gucci or Prada and you would have thought she had won the lottery.  

Leila’s greatest passion, however, was for her family.  She loved and cared so much for her children, her grandchildren, sisters, brothers, mother, nieces, and nephews.  They meant more to her than anything else and the myriad of pictures on her walls and throughout her house reflects just this.

Leila was many things, tough and firm, but fair to all.  Her perseverance through hardships shaped the person she was.  She could be teased to laughter and her smile was infectious.  One of her great joys was seeing her flower boxes full of blooming petunias. 

Leila was predeceased by five sisters, Harriet Parsons, Joan Price, Cynthia Percy, Priscilla Sinclair and Sharon Helps; brother Harold Leach; half sister Joan Fern Leach.

Leila is survived by her three children, Terry Babbidge and his wife Marian Babbidge of Castro Valley California; Peggy (Babbidge) Pike and her husband David B. Pike of Hope;  Bruce Babbidge of Islesboro; Grandchildren David J. Pike of Portland, Leila Pike of Portland, Kevin Babbidge of Castro Valley, California, Silas Babbidge of Islesboro, and Betsy Babbidge of Islesboro; great granddaughter Sadie Kleiman Pike of Portland. Sister Judith Leach of Islesboro, and Brother Carleton Leach of Kingston, New Hampshire; and, four half sisters from New Mexico: Laura Leach Devlin, Susan Cheney, Patrica Noe and Susan Jack and a half sister Nancy Paciga of West Virginia; many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Graveside services will be held in the fall at Greenwood Cemetery on Islesboro.  Date to be determined. 

Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home, Belfast.  Memories and condolences may be shared at ripostafh.com.