BRIDGTON- Janet Louise (Fadden) Richardson
Janet Louise (Fadden) Richardson passed away peacefully on June 12, 2025, at the age of 94. She was born on March 16, 1931, to Phillip Fadden and Helen Frances (Smith) Fadden in South Hiram, Maine.
Over the years Janet resided in Hiram, Brunswick and Bridgton, Maine.
Janet was devoted to both sets of grandparents, Arthur and Grace Smith of South Hiram and Edgar and Ethel Fadden of East Hiram. Janet loved her grandparents dearly. She was proud of the fact that her grandmother Grace was a midwife in South Hiram and assisted with the birth of many local children in her home. She was also proud of her grandfather Edgar and the time he served in the State of Maine Legislature representing Oxford County.
Janet was married three times and had her six children with her first husband, Liston E. Eastman, Sr. Janet and Liston lived and raised their family in Brunswick, Maine.
While living in Brunswick, Janet joined the nursing staff at Parkview Memorial Hospital initially as a CNA and ward secretary. It was there she found her calling in the nursing profession. In 1968 she took a written exam offered by the State of Maine and received her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification and than later became certified and worked as an Operating Room Technician. She worked at Parkview for 16 years. Also while in Brunswick she worked 1 year as an office nurse for Dr. Alice Cunningham. After moving to Bridgton she continued her nursing career as an Operating Room Technician at Stephens Memorial Hospital. She worked at Stephens for 8-1/2 years. Janet was very proud of her nursing career. She retired in 1996.
Janet could be described as an intelligent, independent and strong minded woman. She had a wonderful sense of humor and she loved to laugh and make others laugh too. Janet could not be intimidated or pushed around. She often said she got the “Fadden stubbornness” from her Father. She was kind and never judgmental or critical of others. She was extremely loyal to her family and friends.
Janet lived a full life that revolved around her large family and close friends. She had a generous and loving heart and to her, “family was everything”. She made time for family and friends effortlessly. Janet loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and hosting her family in her home in Bridgton. In preparation she made pies, peanut butter fudge, cookies and popcorn balls - all to please her children and grandchildren.
Janet enjoyed having a very close relationship with her mother Helen Frances. She often said: “my Mother was a good Mother”. Janet was very proud of the fact that her Mother for many years played the piano at local dances. As a teenager Janet began attending these dances and this began her life long love of dancing!
Janet was also very close to her six siblings and always looked forward to spending time with them. In 1968, together they established an annual Smith Family Reunion event that honors the family legacy of Arthur and Grace Smith.
While living in Bridgton, Janet enjoyed a close knit group of friends that loved dancing, golfing and game night - she was always keeping score on who won - the ‘guys or girls’ which revealed her competitive spirit. She also maintained season tickets for the Maine State Music Theater and for many years drove her girlfriends to Brunswick to attend the plays.
For close to 20 years Janet quilted and made/gave away many beautiful quilts. In the picture that accompanies this obituary Janet is at the Smith Family Reunion showing all attending the quilted wall hanging that she made of Portland Headlight - one of her favorite Maine places to visit. She also knitted and made many sweaters and pairs of mittens for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Janet was a devout Christian. While in Brunswick she faithfully attended the Berean Baptist Church and while in Bridgton she attended the 1st Congregational Church. She was very active in the Bridgton church community and enjoyed visiting with parishioners in time of need. She also made quilts and mittens for children in need.
Janet had affiliations with the 1st Congregational Church of Bridgton, the Hiram Historical Society, the VFW Ronald St.John Post #9528 Auxiliary and the Porter High School Alumni Association.
Janet is survived by five of her six children: Sharon Belanger, Carroll (Peter) Eastman, Michael Eastman, Cynthia Osgood and Liston (Lee) Eastman. Eight grandchildren: Shannon Browning, Mike Eastman, Jessie Perry, Michelle Osgood, Charlotte Allen, Christina McAlister, Molly Kilpatrick and Jacob Eastman. Nine great grandchildren: Sophie, Thomas, McKenzie, Zaidyn, Effie, Wyler, Sawyer, Hadley and Natalie.
Janet was predeceased by her grandparents: Arthur and Grace Smith; Edgar and Ethel Fadden; her father: Phillip Fadden; Her mother: Helen Frances (Smith) Riley and stepfather Everett Riley; her six siblings: Donald Stocks, Jean Wentworth, Joanne Hartford, Phillip Fadden, Roger Fadden and Nancy Smith; and her son: Alan Eastman.
Visiting hours with be held at the Poitras, Neal and York Funeral Home located at 71 Maple Street in Cornish, Maine on June 27, 2025 from 2-4pm.
Janet will be laid to rest with her second husband William (Tinker) Osgood at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery located in Denmark, Maine.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff of Woodlands Memory Care of Bridgton and Andwell Hospice Services (Anne, Jared and Dean) for all the loving care they provided to Janet.
Per Janet’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hiram Historical Society, PO Box 101, Hiram, Maine 04041.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, www.mainefuneral.com