Jackie Lee Frisk, 67, ended her slow dance with younger-onset Alzheimer's on July 9, 2024 at 4:20pm, peacefully passing at home in the care of her husband, Thom Frisk, after a day filled with supportive visits from friends and family.
She was born in Millinocket, Maine on May 2, 1957. She was raised by her mother, June Terrio and grandmother Myrtle Snow, alongside her two older sisters Frankie and Michaele. Jackie often told stories of growing up in Millinocket and loved to recall horseback riding on the Rice Farm. Unfortunately, Myrtle passed away in 1976 with June passing away soon after in 1978 while Jackie was in college.
Jackie graduated with distinction in 1980 from the University of Maine with a Bachelor's in Music Education. While she was student teaching in Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island, she met her husband Thom Frisk who was stationed on the island while serving in the Coast Guard. They were married on October 10, 1981 at the Somesville Church.
Jackie and Thom loved to travel. They often took time to visit friends and family across the United States. They also traveled across eastern Canada and even backpacked across Europe for a few months. Even after the birth of her children, Sarah (1987) and Tom (1991), Jackie encouraged road trips filled with stops to various sites and museums along the way to see family across the eastern half of the U.S.
Jackie began her career teaching music at the Tremont School. Jackie and Thom decided to buy a house in Bangor in 1985 in order to spend more time with her father, C. Davis Belcher. However, he passed shortly before closing on the house. She finished out that school year in the Orrington School system before accepting a teaching position in Bangor. She spent the rest of her career teaching music at various elementary schools in the Bangor school system until she stopped teaching in 2012.
She developed a great love for English handbell ringing that lasted throughout her life. She was the handbell choir director in Somesville on MDI, played at Grace Church after moving to Bangor, and then went on to be the handbell choir director at Hamden Highlands Methodist Church for over 20 years. She also served on the board for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and would often help lead and organize handbell workshops throughout New England.
A life-long learner, she received her Masters of Education from Lesley University in 2004. She enjoyed a large variety of concerts, especially Kevin Birch's organ concerts at St John's Catholic Church in Bangor. She continued to play the piano until little less than two years ago, well after talking proved difficult for her.
She volunteered for a large variety of committees and boards over the years, and often would bring choirs to sing and play for nursing home residents. She helped her husband deliver Meals on Wheels until a couple weeks before passing. Along with participating in a variety of Alzheimer's studies, as a final act, she donated her brain tissue to the Harvard Medical School to help further our understanding of Alzheimer's.
Jackie leaves behind her husband Thom, her children Sarah and Tom, and her sisters Frankie (David) Shaw and Michaele (Randy) Palmer, her brother and sister in-laws, Bill, Bob (Wendy), Ann, John, and Mary (John), as well as a choir worth of nieces and nephews as well their children.
Thom wishes to thank Jackie's sister Michaele and her husband Randy for the meals, love, and support they've given us over the years. The efforts you made to keep Jackie consistently a part of your lives and feel welcome at family events will always be remembered and cherished.
The family wishes to thank all the wonderful nurses, aides, and staff at Northern Light hospice along with the volunteers, Noreen, Johneen, and Eloise, for all the care they have given Jackie.
Special thanks goes out to Nancy Minot for coming to play piano with Jackie almost every week. Music has always been a large part of Jackie's life, and having you visit to play and sing songs with her was always a highlight of her week.
The family also wishes to thank Philippa Libby for all the care she gave Jackie while Thom was still working. Additional thanks to Michelle Vose for her visits and piano playing. Finally, thank you to the friends and family who came to visit her during her illness or kept in touch through cards and letters.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions for Jackie are asked to consider the Alzheimer's Association. They can be found online at alz.org. or mailed to PO Box 96011 Washington, DC. 20090-6011
The family invites relatives and friends to an Ice Cream Social 10am-12pm Saturday, July 27, 2024 at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor. A memorial service will be held immediately after at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. Interment will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jackie Frisk, please visit our flower store.
She was born in Millinocket, Maine on May 2, 1957. She was raised by her mother, June Terrio and grandmother Myrtle Snow, alongside her two older sisters Frankie and Michaele. Jackie often told stories of growing up in Millinocket and loved to recall horseback riding on the Rice Farm. Unfortunately, Myrtle passed away in 1976 with June passing away soon after in 1978 while Jackie was in college.
Jackie graduated with distinction in 1980 from the University of Maine with a Bachelor's in Music Education. While she was student teaching in Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island, she met her husband Thom Frisk who was stationed on the island while serving in the Coast Guard. They were married on October 10, 1981 at the Somesville Church.
Jackie and Thom loved to travel. They often took time to visit friends and family across the United States. They also traveled across eastern Canada and even backpacked across Europe for a few months. Even after the birth of her children, Sarah (1987) and Tom (1991), Jackie encouraged road trips filled with stops to various sites and museums along the way to see family across the eastern half of the U.S.
Jackie began her career teaching music at the Tremont School. Jackie and Thom decided to buy a house in Bangor in 1985 in order to spend more time with her father, C. Davis Belcher. However, he passed shortly before closing on the house. She finished out that school year in the Orrington School system before accepting a teaching position in Bangor. She spent the rest of her career teaching music at various elementary schools in the Bangor school system until she stopped teaching in 2012.
She developed a great love for English handbell ringing that lasted throughout her life. She was the handbell choir director in Somesville on MDI, played at Grace Church after moving to Bangor, and then went on to be the handbell choir director at Hamden Highlands Methodist Church for over 20 years. She also served on the board for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and would often help lead and organize handbell workshops throughout New England.
A life-long learner, she received her Masters of Education from Lesley University in 2004. She enjoyed a large variety of concerts, especially Kevin Birch's organ concerts at St John's Catholic Church in Bangor. She continued to play the piano until little less than two years ago, well after talking proved difficult for her.
She volunteered for a large variety of committees and boards over the years, and often would bring choirs to sing and play for nursing home residents. She helped her husband deliver Meals on Wheels until a couple weeks before passing. Along with participating in a variety of Alzheimer's studies, as a final act, she donated her brain tissue to the Harvard Medical School to help further our understanding of Alzheimer's.
Jackie leaves behind her husband Thom, her children Sarah and Tom, and her sisters Frankie (David) Shaw and Michaele (Randy) Palmer, her brother and sister in-laws, Bill, Bob (Wendy), Ann, John, and Mary (John), as well as a choir worth of nieces and nephews as well their children.
Thom wishes to thank Jackie's sister Michaele and her husband Randy for the meals, love, and support they've given us over the years. The efforts you made to keep Jackie consistently a part of your lives and feel welcome at family events will always be remembered and cherished.
The family wishes to thank all the wonderful nurses, aides, and staff at Northern Light hospice along with the volunteers, Noreen, Johneen, and Eloise, for all the care they have given Jackie.
Special thanks goes out to Nancy Minot for coming to play piano with Jackie almost every week. Music has always been a large part of Jackie's life, and having you visit to play and sing songs with her was always a highlight of her week.
The family also wishes to thank Philippa Libby for all the care she gave Jackie while Thom was still working. Additional thanks to Michelle Vose for her visits and piano playing. Finally, thank you to the friends and family who came to visit her during her illness or kept in touch through cards and letters.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions for Jackie are asked to consider the Alzheimer's Association. They can be found online at alz.org. or mailed to PO Box 96011 Washington, DC. 20090-6011
The family invites relatives and friends to an Ice Cream Social 10am-12pm Saturday, July 27, 2024 at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor. A memorial service will be held immediately after at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. Interment will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor.
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