As many of you have already heard, but yet still many of you have not, On May 23rd I lost my husband in an accident. The past several weeks have been the most difficult time in my life (and I have been through some tough spots in the past). I have returned to work about 3 weeks ago after taking about 5 weeks off to focus on myself and my children.I am now more focused on my work than ever. For 2 reasons...first its a great distraction from thinking about the things I can not change. Second, I have a new perspective on just how truly fragile life is and that these moments in our lives pass us by all too quickly. I know that the photos of my husband have become even more precious to me now and will only continue to be more so as they are handed down through the generations of my family.
For my brides and grooms in the remaining months of 2009, you recently received my annual letter...these were on my desk to mailed when the accident occurred. The information is still pertinent and I am still very much looking forward to capturing your love for each other on your special day! Many of you are already like friends and it will be an honor to document this day for you.
I am posting my husband's obituary along with a collage I created for the funeral of our family. So many of you share your lives with me and don't know much about mine....
I am fortunate to have found a partner in life and a love like that I experienced with Dennis. My hope is that if you are reading this, that you too are lucky enough to experience this type of relationship in your lifetime as well.
As a quote from City of Angels states (and I substitute him for her)" I would rather have had one breath of his hair, one kiss from his mouth, one touch of his hand, than eternity without it."
He was the person that recently built my new studio (you can read about this in the previous posts) and a huge support to me in my business. I know my focus on my work is more important than ever and is what he would insist on (especially having spent 5 months of nights and weekends and a few vacation days building the new space).
Thank you to all of my current clients who patiently waited for me to return to schedule their shoots and to see their proofs as I have been catching up, to the wedding couples and their friends and families who have had to wait just a little longer than my norm to see the photos on line, and to all those clients, brides and grooms of past and present, business associates and the community for all of you offers of help and kind words throughout this past 2 months. I am truly a blessed woman. God bless you all. -Love, Roxanne
Dennis Maurice Bedard, 37, left this world all too soon on Saturday May 23, 2009 in a tragic accident at his home in Bowdoinham. He worked hard, played hard, and loved deeply. He changed the lives of many people, including some who never even knew his name. His motto was to always put others before himself. He was above all else, a dedicated father and husband.
He became a father to Nicholas Cody Bedard, at the young age of 18. He matured into an incredible man at a much younger age than most because of this. He raised Nick as a single father from the age of 4. An accomplishment he was proud of and wouldn’t have allowed any other way. He was very proud that Nick had made the decision to join the Air Force this year and looked forward to visiting him around the world.
In early 2004, he met “the love of his life and soul mate” as he referred to her. Ms. Roxanne Denise (Whitcomb) Ashey was proud to become Mrs. Roxanne Denise Bedard on October 22, 2005 in an intimate ceremony filled with sentiment, witnessed by 65 close family and friends. Also in that ceremony he became a father to two more children that he loved as if they were his own, a son, Ryan and a daughter, Sarah.
He most recently had been coaching Ryan’s lacrosse team for the past 2 seasons and was proud of Ryan’s progress. He was in his glory as it combined two of his greatest passions-his family and lacrosse. He made a special connection to the other kids on the team and always had great care and concern for their sportsmanship as well as their skills. He was looking forward to watching their high school lacrosse careers.
Having come from a family of all boys and having a son himself, he was a little intimidated by this little girl who entered in his life but she very quickly became “daddy’s little girl”, every night after work he would come home and his face would light up as soon as she entered the room.
His third passion in life was playing bass guitar. He had the music in his blood and was an accomplished musician. He enjoyed classic and hard rock especially and had been thrilled to be playing out again recently.
Over the past few years he enjoyed traveling to Washington D.C., Quebec, Florida and Aruba with his wife and children. Rangeley had become the family’s special place. He enjoyed downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ATVing, boating, waterskiing, swimming in the pool at home, snorkeling, watching both boys play lacrosse, coaching, fishing, hunting, building things, the company of good friends, and being at home with his wife and kids.
He was the partner and strength in his wife’s business and proud of his own personal achievements as a manager at Max Finkelstein. He was well respected for his automotive knowledge and could fix anything. He leaves a life that was being lived to its fullest, and an example for all who knew him to try and be more like him.
His family and friends were his entire world. He was a loving and dedicated son to Anita and Robert Bedard of Sabattus who deeply miss him. He was the baby brother that was always there when needed by his older brothers, Ricky Bedard and his wife Alarice of Manchester, Maine and Normand Bedard of Auburn. He was a loving uncle to Brynna Bedard and Amanda Bedard Saunders and her husband, Mike. He loved his young great-nephew, Folken like a grandchild. He was heartbroken when he lost his oldest brother “Ronnie”, in an accident in 1994. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He has left an enormous void in the lives of his “other parents” Emery and Roberta Whitcomb of Monroe and his sister in law Trudy Glidden and her husband Mark of Orrington. He will be greatly missed by his friends, they were like brothers to him and they know who they are.
Visiting Hours with the family are open to all from 2-4 and 6-8pm on Friday June 5th. A Celebration of his Life will be held on his 38th birthday, Tuesday, June 9th at 2pm. Both located at Brackett Funeral Home 29 Federal Street Brunswick, Maine.
A reception immediately following the June 9th service will be held at the Topsham Legion Hall on Foreside Road across from the field where he coached. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Dennis Bedard Memorial Fund c/o AFCU PO Box 327 Topsham, Maine 04086. A scoreboard and other items for his lacrosse team will be purchased in his memory.
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