Drucilla Bickford

Drucilla (Dru) Roberts Bickford, 98, of Concord, NH, and long time resident of Rochester, NH passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2024. She exemplified old-fashioned family values where the mother possessed the virtues described by Solomon, whose children, and her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren "arise up and call her blessed". Dru was the matriarch of the family, shaped by the loss of her father before she was three years old, she grew up on a multigenerational farm in East Lebanon, ME without electricity, plumbing, or central heat, until she moved to Rochester in 1929. She graduated from the original Allen school and from Spaulding High School, class of 1943. During war time she went on to graduate from Lasell College, Newton, MA in 1945. One day in downtown Rochester Dru ran into Everett (Bick) Bickford in front of the Rochester National Bank. They went to a dance in Sanbornville that Saturday night, and "things took off from there". She resided in Rochester from 1929 - 1947. After they were married, she then lived in Boston, MA; Baltimore, MD, Detroit and Dearborn, MI; Albany, NY, Acton, MA, and Nashua, NH, before moving back to Rochester in June 1973. She worried as the wife of an FBI agent who worked long hours and was routinely transferred, so it was a goal of hers to return to Rochester to be near family and network of friends. Dru was a long time member of First Church Congregational and the Mary Torr Chapter of D.A.R. where she was a past Regent. She was a member and Past President of the Frisbee Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She served 3 terms in the NH Legislature and was a member of the Order of Women Legislators (OWLs). Dru enjoyed playing Bridge and was an avid reader. She enjoyed spending winter months in Florida and summers at the Milton, NH cottage. As a special treat after blueberry picking, she would make blueberry pancakes a family favorite. Dru and Bick moved to the Havenwood Heritage Heights community Concord, NH in 2002 where she resided until her death. Daughter of Lester H. Roberts and Doris Covey Roberts, Stepdaughter of Joseph E. Woodes, Stepsister of Jeannette W. Stevens Wife of Everett J. Bickford (m. 7/12/1947) She is survived by her Children: Thomas L. Bickford (Dorothy), Kittery ME; Tara E. Bickford Bailey, (Glen Bailey) Strafford, NH; Timothy R. Bickford (Collette), Lebanon, ME; Tad J. Bickford (Christopher Donahue), North Andover, MA; Grandchildren: Jennifer (Duncan Birch), Dr. Erica Bickford, Jonathan Bickford, Morgan (Peter Caraviello), Lauren (Jonathan Wentworth), Jeremy Bailey (Hannah). Her 6 great grandchildren are her pride and joy. She is survived by a loving extended family and a host of long-time friends.A celebration of life is being planned for April 20, 2024 at 2pm at First Church Congregational in Rochester, NH. Memorial funds should be sent to the 250th Memorial Endowment Fund, First Church Congregational, 63 South Main Street, Rochester NH, 03867

Drucilla Bickford

February 24, 2024