Longtime business owner Bivin dies
Gail Bivin, former owner of The Canterbury Shoppes, 175 W. Jackson Ave. in downtown Naperville, died Wednesday following a battle with cancer. The entrepreneur, who recently sold her business to designer Pamela Patton, was 54.
Bivin founded the store in 1996 after successfully launching a similar shop in Barrington with business partner Cynthia Baer in 1993. The Canterbury Shoppes, in the building that houses Egg Harbor restaurant and several other retail shops and businesses, specializes in Christmas gifts and décor. The store also carries a variety of other merchandise, including decorative accessories, art reproductions, small furniture and children's items.
(Sun-Times Media File)
"It's a happy time of year," Bivin once said of her affection for all things Christmas, which formed the foundation for her shop in its early years. "I like the beauty of it and I like the family happy time of year that it represents."
In 2007, Bivin's business acumen was recognized when The Canterbury Shoppes was named Retailer of the Year by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
"I couldn't ask for a better friend and business partner," said Baer about her longtime friend and business associate. "Anything Gail did she did it very well and with enthusiasm."
Baer said Bivin immediately was taken with Naperville when the two began searching for a town in which to open their second store. "Gail got to know the fabric of the community and knew many people by name."
Bivin married husband Bob in 2006. The duo enjoyed the outdoors and often spent their free time hiking, taking walks and visiting the Morton Arboretum.
In addition to her retail business, Bivin also was active in several community organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Little Friends Inc. She was recently honored by the Naperville Jaycees with its Distinguished Service Award in the Civic Leader category.
"One of the foundations of our business was to give back to the community," said Baer. "Gail made such a difference with her involvement in so many organizations. She never called attention to herself — she just wanted to help people for the joy of it."
The oldest of four children, Bivin, whose maiden name was Andrews, grew up in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She earned a degree in biochemistry from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and a master's degree in food science and microbiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She worked for Quaker Oats in Chicago for two years and moved on to Kraft Foods in Glenview where she helped develop the Miracle Whip Light product.
In addition to her loving husband Bob of Naperville, Bivin is survived by her parents, Patrice and Malcolm Andrews of Southern Pines, N.C., and stepdaughters Stephanie Bivin of Glen Ellyn and Allison Bivin of Chicago. She also leaves behind two sisters, Sara (Richard) Conti of Wilmington, Ohio, and Martha (Gregory) Hunt of Johnston, R.I., and a brother, Kyle (Mary) Andrews of Northbrook. Bivin is also survived by five nieces and nephews and many extended family and friends.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Little Friends Inc., 140 N Wright St., Naperville, IL 60540. For information, call 630-355-0213.
