Elizabeth "Betsy" (Jordan) Thibeault, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 27, 2026, following a brief illness.

Born on January 9, 1937, in South Portland, Maine, Betsy was the eldest of eight children born to George W. and Mary "Dot" Jordan. She grew up in South Portland and graduated from South Portland High School in 1955.

In 1954, while attending a dance at Cheverus High School, Betsy met the love of her life, Paul Thibeault. Both were high school juniors at the time. They were married on June 1, 1957, and recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. Together they built a loving family that included three children, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Betsy had a special place in her heart for the underdog and quietly looked for ways to help those facing difficult times. If a friend, neighbor, or family member was struggling, she was often the first to reach out with a card, a home-cooked meal, or some thoughtful gesture to let them know they were not alone. Her compassion for others was one of her most defining qualities and one of the many reasons she will be deeply missed

Betsy was also well known among her family and friends for her exceptional cooking and adventurous spirit in the kitchen. Long before international cuisine became commonplace, she enrolled in Chinese cooking classes in the early 1970s, and family members fondly remember that she was likely the only mother on Harriet Street growing her own bean sprouts in a jar for her cooking. Betsy was also famous for her homemade strawberry jam. Every summer, she waited for her favorite variety of strawberries to ripen at Maxwell Farms to make jam. The jars she shared with family and friends became a tradition everyone looked forward to.

A lifelong lover of travel and the outdoors, Betsy and Paul spent many years exploring New England and eastern Canada. Their favorite vacation was returning to Cobscook Bay State Park in Downeast Maine where they enjoyed canoeing, picking blueberries, birdwatching, and taking scenic drives into Canada. No trip was complete without a stop at Helen's Restaurant in Machias for a slice, or two, of pie.

In 2007, Betsy and Paul celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family trip to Ireland. They returned two years later to explore Northern Ireland, including Belfast, and Scotland where Betsy's family originated.

Betsy had a deep interest in genealogy and spent many hours researching her family's history. Her research helped connect her to her family's roots and inspired her travels to Ireland and Scotland.

For many years she worked at Inness Photo in South Portland, where she developed a keen interest in nature photography. She was also an avid reader who rarely missed her weekly trip to the library. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and cooking programs.

Above all else, Betsy cherished her family. Nothing brought her greater happiness than following the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A digital picture frame in her kitchen, constantly displaying family photographs, was one of her daily sources of joy.

In addition to her parents, Betsy was predeceased by her beloved son, Mark Thibeault, and her brother, Stephen Jordan.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, Paul Thibeault; her daughter-in-law Tammy (Whitworth) Thibeault; her son Alan Thibeault and his wife, Katherine (Brown) Thibeault; her daughter Sarah Christenbury and her husband, Tim Christenbury; eight grandchildren, Lindsay Thibeault, Lauren Swartz, Gradon Thibeault, Matthew Phillips, Noah Phillips, Nathan Thibeault, Colleen Thibeault, and Erin Thibeault; and her great-grandchildren, Reese Farrell, Charlotte Phillips, Alden Phillips, Mary Kate Phillips, Cullen Phillips, Wyatt Phillips, Emory Swartz, and Bruce Varraveto.

She is also survived by her siblings Janice Sinnet, Kathleen Coughlin, Mary Wheeler, Jerome Jordan, Rosalie Stebbins and Paula Sirpis.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to: Wayside Food Programs Supporting the community through healthy food access, food waste prevention, and meaningful opportunities for community connection. https://waysidemaine.app.neoncrm.com/forms/unsolicited-individuals or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / The Jimmy Fund Supporting groundbreaking cancer research, compassionate patient care, and expanded access to lifesaving treatment. https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2100&mfc_pref=T&2100.donation=form1