Ida Bishop

Ida (Finch) Bishop, 93, died Wednesday, January 14, 2009. Originally from Marblehead, Ida nurtured her family in Medford, and then retired to Stoneham and finally Worcester. It is on Cape Cod, however, in Eastham, where she and her husband created an enduring home for themselves, their three children and their spouses, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Ida loved the Cape. Ida's first and greatest love though, began in a shared class at her alma mater, Boston University. After a determined chase that classmate, Richard Bishop, watched his bride walk down the aisle in 1938. This past September Ida and Dick celebrated 70 years of devotionDick still marveling over his good luck. Ida spent her last days holding her husband's hand which she reassuringly squeezed over and over again, and surrounded by her family while they shared favorite memories. It is their good fortune that there were too many joyful moments to fit into just a few days and will spill over for years to come. The Bishops are grateful for everyone's gift of their own memories of Idathe recurring mention of Ida's legendary tollhouse cookies has brought them many smiles. Immediate surviving family members include her husband Richard W. Bishop, her son Dr. Richard Bishop and his wife Sande Bishop, her son Dr. Gregory Bishop and his wife Joyce Bishop, and her daughter Jill Rubalcaba and her husband Daniel Rubalcaba. There will be no formal services. Memorial donations can be sent to Grace Episcopal Church, 160 High Street in Medford, Massachusetts 02155. Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, Worcester, is assisting the family with arrangements.