By james art WILTON – Knowing Irv has made me a better person. When presented with a vexing problem or stressful situation, he always said simply, “Do the next right thing.” He looked forward with hope and created it for others. He does it professionally and as a volunteer in a number of civic organizations.
He was born in Berlin, New York to Bernard and Lillian Faunce (née LaChance), the only boy surrounded by five sisters. His family soon moved to S. Portland, then to Cape Elizabeth before settling in Gardiner, where he graduated in 1963.
While attending Colby College, he worked at the Waterville Sentinel, wrote obituaries and also taught English and French at Belgrade HS. After graduation, Colby hired him to work in the Office of Communications. Then he loved and continued to enthusiastically support his alma mater. He worked briefly at the Maine County Commissioners Association, Maine Pharmacists Association, Maine Better Transportation Association before finding his true calling in health care administration.
He met and married Julia Trainor and had four wonderful children who filled his life with light and laughter.
Irv led the development of the nation’s first Alzheimer’s care facility in Gardiner. He was honored to complete a space that preserves the dignity of Alzheimer’s sufferers while providing specialized care and supporting families.
His career in health care has led him to serve as director of many facilities across the state – in Kennebunk at the Brain Injury Center and in long-term care in Kennebunk, Blue Hill, Camden, Madison and Farmington.
He was a fierce advocate for the rights and welfare of the most vulnerable members of our community and was honored to serve on the founding board of the Maine Human Rights Commission 1976-1981, the Maine Environmental Protection Council 2000-2005 .State Board of Corrections 2008-2011 He has served on various school boards, select boards, city boards, planning boards, low income housing and health care systems boards.
In his mid-forties, he found the friendship of Bill’s Friends that changed his life and probably saved it. He met and married Jan Collins. Together they adopted three children, enriching their lives and teaching them unexpected lessons.
Irv believed in a life of service and lived it, giving of himself without expectation of return. He was positive and quietly passionate.
Irv was preceded in death by his parents, Lillian and Bernard Faunce, his sister, Sally Ricker, and a grandson, Ethan Henderson. He is survived by his sisters Beverly White (husband Les), Suzanne House (husband Arnie), Bonnie Moulton and Kathy Lurvey: first wife Julia Faunce (nee Traynor); his children, Kelly Malquist (husband Ward), Karen Rand (husband Steve), Casey Harris (husband Bill), Tom Faunce, Kathy Collins-Fauce, Gordon Collins-Fauce and Sasha Collins-Fauce; 13 grandchildren, Madison and Mitchell Rand; Aidan, Alex and Ashton Harris; Kaylin Malmquist; Lucas and Neve Abustan; Haley Hawkes; Sirina, Liesha and Helen Harrington; Samantha Rosenbach-Abrams; wife and assistant Jan Collins.
For the loving care given to him in his final days, in lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to the Maine Hospice Council, Governor Hill Mansion, 136 State St. Suite 220, Augusta, ME 04333.
A public visitation will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 24, at the Wilton United Methodist Church, 600 Main Street, Wilton, Maine, followed by Irv’s funeral at 3:00 p.m. From 4:00 p.m. at the church there will be a reception. Memories may be shared in the Irving Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com. The Wiles Memorial Center in Farmington is honored to care for the Irving Faunce family.
