FRIENDSHIP — Florence E. Cushman, 91, passed away peacefully on Sept. 27, 2016, at the Knox Center in Rockland. Florence was born Dec. 5, 1924, in Rockland, to parents Ralph A. Simmons and Ruth L. Harding Simmons.

Florence grew up in Friendship and attended Friendship schools until she went on to attend Newton High School in Massachusetts. After graduation, she worked for a publishing company in Massachusetts and also enjoyed teaching sailing. Florence returned to Maine, where she married Raymond Cushman of Friendship on April 20, 1946.

They made their home in Friendship and they shared many years together. Florence was employed at GTE Sylvania in Waldoboro, where she worked for many years until retiring in 1984. After retirement Florence spent her summers on Friendship Long Island and winters in Sunrise, Fla.

Some of Florence's favorite pastimes were cooking, crocheting, knitting, gardening, picking blueberries, spending time with family and friends on Friendship Long Island, traveling with friends, and she especially loved dancing.

Florence is remembered by her family as patient, kind, loving, well-liked by everyone who was blessed to know her, fun-loving, and selflessly generous with her time and love. They also remember her as a hard worker and surely an independent "Mainer." Florence's family will forever cherish memories of time spent with her on Friendship Long Island through the years.

Florence was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Raymond, in 1982; her brothers, Ralph, Alfred and Donald Simmons; along with her good friend and companion, Moe Berube.

Left to cherish her memories are her daughters, Ellen Ahlemeyer and her companion, Stewart Harrington, of Friendship, and Ramona and her husband, Peter Genthner, of Waldoboro; her grandchildren, Jennifer and her husband, Anthony Lee, of Washington, Rebecca Ahlemeyer and her companion, Corey Wallace, of Waldoboro, Paul Ahlemeyer of Rockland, Seth Genthner and his wife, Erica, of Waldoboro, and Nathan Genthner and his companion, Nicole Bradley, of Truckee, Calif. She also leaves her five great-grandchildren, Hannah Lee and Megan Lee of Washington, and Mikayla Wallace, Cole Wallace and Gage Genthner of Waldoboro.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hall's of Waldoboro. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Hall's of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.