Frances Helen McArdle

CAPE ELIZABETH - Frances Helen McArdle died unexpectedly at her Cape Elizabeth residence on September 19, 2013. Fran was born in Washington, Connecticut on August 2, 1933 to Paul and Anne Terrick. She attended schools in Washington, and graduated from Endicott Junior College with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. She later went on to attend Skidmore College and St. Francis College, graduating with a B.A. in English. Fran and John (Jack) McArdle, Jr. were married in 1954 and moved to Ipswich, Massachusetts, where both son, John III, and daughter, Deborah, were born. In her college years Fran worked in Fashion Merchandising for Abercrombie and Fitch in New York City. After the family moved to Northboro, Massachusetts in 1960, Fran coached women's basketball and field hockey at Algonquin High School. In 1964, Jack and Fran moved their family to Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Fran soon became a very familiar face within the Cape Elizabeth school system, where she spent many hours either volunteering within the classroom or taking on long-term teaching assignments for educators on leave. Fran was active and loved the outdoors her entire life. When she was younger, she played competitive tennis at various clubs in Portland and Falmouth, and later developed a love of Nordic Skiing. Fran continued to be seen attending local sporting events long after John and Deborah left Cape Elizabeth. She was also seen frequently at her beloved local beach, hiking around Kettle Cove and the local Land Trust within her community, and Nordic skiing at Crescent Beach State Park. She also reveled in the opportunity to take a trip to Nordic ski at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center in Carrabassett Valley. Fran was an original member of the Cape Elizabeth Garden Club, and her beautiful gardens demonstrated her love for the beauty of nature. She was also a voracious reader and before Jack's death in 2011, they often spent the greater portion of a day together at the Thomas Memorial Library. Fran was filled with compassion and interest in others, She made friends easily and maintained contact with many throughout her life. She loved animals and as a child spent a great deal of time riding horses at her grandparent's farm. In recent years, Fran particularly enjoyed spending time with Deb's dog, Gabe. Fran is survived by her daughter Deborah A. Bowker and her fianc(c) Jay Reynolds of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, and her son John A. McArdle, III and his wife Meredith Fisher McArdle of Freeport, Maine. In addition, Fran is survived by her sister Virginia Whittall of Washington, Connecticut, niece Laura Whittall Scherefee and family of Carmichael, California, and nephew Paul Whittall, of Fair Oaks, California. Fran was pre-deceased her parents, Paul and Anne Terrick and her husband John, to whom she was married for fifty-seven years. A celebration of life will take place on Tuesday, October 1 at 11:00 a.m. at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, Maine.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fran's name to:The Thomas Memorial Library6 Scott Dyer RoadCape Elizabeth, Maine 04107Online condolences may be expressed below.