OLD ORCHARD BEACH – Faith Hogan, the wife of state Rep. George Hogan and longtime co-owner of Hogan’s Variety Store, died Monday. She was 68.
The Hogans have owned the store on West Grand Avenue in Old Orchard Beach for 35 years. He said they worked at the store together and lived in the same building for 30 years.
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George Hogan said Thursday that the store is a popular meeting place for many people in the community. He said his wife enjoyed talking to the customers and got to know many people in the neighborhood. He credited her with making their business a success.
“If it wasn’t for her, we probably wouldn’t have the store,” he said. “She was so good and so understanding. I don’t have her patience. … To her, it wasn’t a job. It was something she truly loved doing.”
As the wife of a lawmaker, Mrs. Hogan took an interest in the issues facing residents and did what she could to help. George Hogan, a Democrat, is serving his fourth term in the House of Representatives.
“She was amazing in that she never seemed to leave (the store), yet she knew more about what was going on in town than I did,” her husband said. “Some constituents would call with a problem. She always took the time to talk with people. In many instances, she solved the problem for them.”
About five years ago, the Hogans handed the keys to the store to their daughter, Wendy Blake, who now runs the business.
Mrs. Hogan was remembered by her husband as a devoted wife, mother to her five children and grandmother to their children.
He said she was supportive and active in their children’s lives, attending all of their games and school activities.
“She loved this family more than anything,” he said. “The kids always knew just how much she loved them.”
Mrs. Hogan met her husband in the eighth grade. The two were married shortly after graduating from Old Orchard Beach High School in 1960. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 22.
Mrs. Hogan had lung cancer. In the past year or so, the cancer spread to her brain and throughout her body. Her husband said she fought the disease until the end.
“She was determined not to give in to it,” he said. “This past year, when she got sick, we took a ride nearly every day. It’s like she wanted to see as much as she could before she went. I’m going to miss that companionship.”
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:
mcreamer@pressherald.com
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