This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Angela Gillespie, most people called her Angel which she truly is. She was born in Maine on July 29, 1978 & left the earth on January 30, 2009 at the young age 30.We will remember her forever. We will remember her beautiful smile, her positive energy & her outgoing attitude. Angel's willingness to live was tremendous; after surviving many medical procedures & surgeries, she was always positive.
Angela J. Gillespie, “ Gilbert” 30 years old, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2009 surrounded by her family at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Angela struggled courageously with congenital heart disease her whole life and endured multiple surgeries. She was a recent heart transplant recipient.
She was born in Portland on July 29, 1978 and attended Massabesic High School in Waterboro. Upon completion from Job Corp, Angela became a C.N.A. and worked on the Barbara Bush Floor at Maine Medical Center and later as a receptionist. Though she had health concerns, Angela would be the first one to assist anyone. It did not define who she was as a person, nor did it dampen her dreams. With her kindness and loving ways, she touched many hearts and lives. She became an inspiration to many while she waited for her “new heart” at Children’s Hospital in Boston.
She is lovingly survived by her mother Paula and step dad Brian Fitzgerald of Raymond; her best friend and loving sister, Jennifer Cope and brother-in-law David Rancourt of Windham; her loving niece Brittany Rancourt and loving nephew, Joseph Cope; her brother, Troy Gilbert and family of Jasper, Georgia; her grandmother, Marita Aldrich of Bridgeton; many aunts, uncles and cousins; her grandmother, Beverly Towle and family of Standish and Joshua Greenwood.
Angela will be remembered and loved by her many longtime friends, the staff and nurses who cared for her at Children’s Hospital and her special 10 year old friend, Ardazan. They had shared a special bond while they were both at Children’s.
Angela was predeceased by her grandfather, Robert Towle, her grandparents, Bob and Blanch Harmon and her grandfather, Hubert Aldrich.
A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the chapel of Independent Death Care, 471 Deering Ave., in Portland. Family and friends may visit from 11:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
To assist the family with medical expenses, a memorial fund has been established. Memorial donations may be made to the:
Angela Gilbert Gillespie Memorial Fund C/O Jennifer Cope Cumberland County Federal Credit Union 808 Roosevelt Trail Windham, ME 04062.
Thinking of you on this New Years Day / Lisa (one of her many best friends. )
Angel not a day goes by that I do not think of you. You are in my thoughts countless times throughout my day. The simplest things make me think of you. It is a bittersweet end to last year for me. I can say it was the worst year ever because I lost y...
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My Sweat Angel / Troy Gilbert (Brother)
In the times I remember my sister and I growing up we always made the best of every thing that was around us no matter what. I remember playing with her when we were young on the swing set we got for a present in the summer of 85 I remember dancing w...
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To the world's greatest Angel...I miss u / Julisa Burgos (one of her fav nurses )
Ang,
How much do I miss you. The unit isn't the same without. I can't hold back my tears sometimes when I see room 19 or I look at Meredith's bracelet that has AG engraved on it (for u). Or when someone mentions low sodium or miss...
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Love ya baby / Meredith Sawyer (Favorite Nurse/Forever Friend )
I miss ya babe.... I was truly blessed to have met such an amazing person, even more blessed that you became my forever friend. Thinking of you every day... I love you Ang...
Where do I begin.... / Crystal McAtee (Best Friend/Cousin/A Sister at HEART )
Im sorry it has taken me so long to write....but I needed time when I was alone as I am a MESS!
My life began with Angel as babies....my mother and her mother are sisters making Angel my cousin but truely a sister as we spent every waking moment tog...
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Angel was the strongest, most positive person I have ever met in my life. Throughout her life she has been through many struggles & hardships; however if you did not know what she has been through you would never know. She often cared more about me & making sure that I was okay than how she was feeling, when she was sick in the hospital. She was my best friend; always looking out for me & now she is my guardian Angel.
When I first met Angel, we would go dancing every weekend with Lisa & Corinna. We would dance until the clubs were closed; yet this was a young woman with a congenital heart condition & other medical complications. You could never tell. Angel was determined to live life to the fullest no matter what & she did. She was always talking about what she was going to do & what was next; not what she wished she could do. I think we will all remember Angel’s positive vibes & strength to pull forward no matter what.
Angel is an amazing person; she is the person with whom you want by your side to share your life with. Angel has touched the lives of so many people & has brought so much positive energy into so many lives, including mine.
So it is up to each one of us how we will preserve her memory. Maybe promote organ donation through education & fundraising or it could even be as simple as living your own life to the fullest & being the positive inspiration to someone else that Angel was to me & to so many of you.
Although Angel is gone she is here living within each one of us, within our memories, our hearts, & our souls.
She is Gone You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she's gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes love and go on.
Angela's Photo Album
I have never seen a more beautiful person in my life
Tributes and Condolences
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