Obituary of Hope R. MacFarland

FARMINGDALE — Hope Rebecca MacFarland, 63, died Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Augusta after a long and courageous fight with breast cancer. She was born in Augusta, Maine on April 10, 1954, the daughter of Eileen B. MacFarland and Harold L. MacFarland. She graduated from Hall-Dale High School in 1972, Strayer College in 1992 with Bachelor of Arts of double majors in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration, and earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Northern Virginia Community College in 1993. She moved to Alexandria, Virginia in1981, and lived there for many years, before moving back to Maine in 1996, and with the love of her life, built their dream home together in Farmingdale. Her working career included years with School Nutrition Accountability System (SNAP Systems), which involved a lot of national travel. Later, she worked as a manager in several telecommunications systems. Hope worked at several call centers after being diagnosed with a disability. After she stopped those efforts, she became an Officiant, performing numerous weddings all around the State of Maine. After her cancer diagnosis in August of 2015, and a year of various treatments at the Alfond Center in Augusta, Maine, Hope participated for a year in a cancer treatment trial program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. A person of matchless and boundless energy and hope, she made those around her better. She is survived by her wife, Ingrid B. Vancil, of Farmingdale; brothers Stanley H. Eames and Peter C. Eames, of Gardiner, Russell B. Eames, of Worcester, Mass., Robert L. MacFarland and his wife Linda (Vancil) of Salisbury Beach, Mass.; Michael L. MacFarland of Chelsea and Brian A. MacFarland and his spouse Ian L. Bockus of Prospect; sisters, Kathrin M. Theberge, and husband Roger of Hallowell, Pamela J. (MacFarland) Bull of Eddington and Diana L. (MacFarland) Wain and her husband of East Corinth ; brothers-in-law, John Vancil of Auburn and William Caldwell, of Farmingdale; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Harold L. MacFarland in 1986, mother, Eileen (Bowen) MacFarland, in 2003; and a sister, Elizabeth (Eames) Caldwell in 2010. A Remembrance and Celebration of Life will be held July 20, 2017 from 3 PM to 5 PM in the Fellowship Hall at Hope Baptist Church, 726 Western Avenue, Manchester, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society 1 Bowdoin Mill Island Suite 300 Topsham, ME 04086.