OBITUARIES for Thursday, December 17, 2020

MARY L. WEEKS

WATERVILLE – Mary Louise (Bernard) Weeks, 88, passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2020. She was born in Falmouth on June 25, 1932, the daughter of Harry and Louise Bernard.

Mary was an avid dancer. Anytime there was music playing she would dance to the rhythm. This is how she gained the nickname March Two. She was a graduate of Waterville High School exceling and receiving awards for her typing skills.

Mary married her sweetheart, Harland, on April 5, 1952, at the age of 19, right before he was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. Mary was a Catholic and Harland a Protestant, so marrying the two religions was very rare in those days. Mary’s brother would mock his sister when Harland would go see her in Falmouth in his best teenage girl voice, “Oh, Harland how’ve missed you.” Little did he know they would be married 68 years! They stayed forever in love which is such a rare occurrence today.

Mary worked for the telephone company as an operator for many years before becoming a housewife and mother to the couple’s three children. In later years, she worked along side Harland at their family business, A.L. Weeks and Sons, on Kennedy Memorial Drive, as the bookkeeper for many years before they both retired in 1998.

After retirement, she devoted her time to her love of cooking, crafting and her faith. She was on several boards at the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church. She volunteered endless hours crafting, baking and running the church’s annual rummage and bake sale.

In their free time Harland and Mary would frequent their camp on Great Pond, and later on Lake Hebron. They enjoyed making fond memories with their grandchildren, taking yearly trips to the coast for lobster or having sleep overs at their camps, always supplied with cookies and cream ice cream. A trip to camp was never complete without a visit from Smokey in the peppermint room.

Mary’s family was the focus of her life. She loved hosting every holiday, always with a buffet of every food and pastry you could think. She enjoyed decorating for Christmas. She was famously known for her peanut butter fudge. Anytime someone was sick they knew to call her for some piping hot homemade chicken noodle soup.

She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Bobby, Joe and George William.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Harland L. Weeks; daughter Julie, husband Bob, children Tiffany and Danielle and great-grandchildren Avery, Brooklyn, Cole, Landon and Connor; son Chris and wife Janet, their children Amanda and Christopher, great-grandchildren Wyatt and Mikaela; daughter Tammy, husband Roger, their children Timothy and Jonathan, great-grandchildren Hannah, Samuel and Harland; her sister, Elizabeth Jensen; a niece, Dorothy Towle; brother-in-law Marynard Weeks and wife Cheryl; many nieces and nephews.

There will be a spring service and burial. Funeral services are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com

In lieu of flowers the family asks that if you wish to donate to The Pleasant Street United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen, 61 Pleasant St., Waterville, ME 04901.

DR. MARILYN S. MAVRINAC

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin – Dr. Marilyn Sweeney Mavrinac, 93, long-time resident of Water­ville, died on Sunday, November 29, 2020. While she passed away in Wisconsin, where she had been living for the past 10 years, Dr. Mavrinac maintained strong ties to Waterville.

Dr. Mavrinac is described by her children as a scholar, world traveler, adventurer, athlete, and wife and mother extraordinaire. Always interested, always involved, Dr. Mavrinac, a European historian, was determined to discover the world, its people, its places, and its history.

From the time she was a young girl, Dr. Mavrinac was devoted to learning. She began her higher education at Wellesley College, continuing her studies at Columbia University, where she earned her master’s degree, then proceeded to Harvard University, where in 1953 she began her doctoral studies in history. Over the course of her career, she taught at Hathaway Brown School, Columbia, Wellesley, the American University in Cairo, and later Colby College.

In 1957, Dr. Mavrinac temporarily set aside her scholarly pursuits to build her family with her great love, her husband, Albert Mavrinac, whom she met at Harvard. The pair traveled extensively, moving the family for periods of work and study from the home base in Maine to Africa, Asia, and Europe.

While raising her children in Waterville and overseas, Dr. Mavrinac was always involved in a mix of professional and community service activities. After teaching at Colby for a number of years, she was appointed chairman of its education department, where she built the student-teacher practicum program. At Colby, Dr. Mavrinac also developed her scholarly studies of the education of French women and the history of French Canadian settlers in Waterville, interviewing a number of local residents in Waterville as part of her research.

In her mid-60s, after her children had grown, she resumed her doctoral research, much of it undertaken in France, receiving her doctorate from Harvard University in the early 1990s.

In between their travel and study, Marilyn and Albert also made time for community involvement. After her husband passed away in 2006, Marilyn maintained her volunteer work and an active research agenda. She volunteered in a variety of organizations in Waterville, in the local Democratic Party, and in church and civic groups. She was proud to be among those organizing the first local celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, in Waterville.

Marilyn and Albert were also avid tennis players, and were fixtures on the indoor and outdoor courts at Colby. Into her 70s, Dr. Mavrinac played in numerous tournaments, at times defeating opponents half her age.

Dr. Mavrinac is survived by her five children, Georgia (Mike), Susan (Tom), Sarah (Neil), Emily (Paul) and Tony (Yvette); 12 grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and myriad friends and colleagues in Maine and throughout the world.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, 19 Colby St., Waterville, ME 04901, http://www.shelterme.org.

MARION B. JACKINS

WATERVILLE – Marion B. Jackins, 102, a.k.a. ReRe passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, in Waterville. Marion was born on April 8, 1918, in Houlton,to Alden and Bessie Bradbury Jackins.

The family moved to Waterville when she was three-years-old. She graduated from Waterville High School, class of 1935, and attended Colby College for one year. After this she was employed by Woolworth Department Store, in Waterville, as clerk, detective, and office manager for 10 years. Also, during that time, she served in the Red Cross Motor Corps from 1941-1942. She worked at Preble Studio, in Waterville, from 1945 to 1973. She then worked for Butler’s Department Store, on Main St., in Waterville, serving as office manager from 1973 to 1982, and then at Peter Webber Sporting Goods, on the Concourse, in Waterville, part time as their bookkeeper before retiring. She also served as an election clerk at the Ward 6 voting location, at the Pleasant Street Elementary School, in Waterville, with her sister, Myrtle Weigelt, for many years.

She enjoyed hosting her family every Sunday afternoon for dinner and card games. She was an excellent baker, noted for her delicious desserts. She enjoyed mountain climbing, camping, traveling, knitting, crossword puzzles and watching Fox News.

Marion attended church all her life. First affiliated with the United Methodist Church in Waterville and later attended the Blessed Hope Advent Christian Church in Waterville.

Her philosophy of life, in her words was, “It isn’t how much money you make. It is how happy you are. What counts is our relationships and being content with small things.”

Marion is survived by her nephews, Robert Weigelt and his wife, Helen, of Jackman, and Alden Weigelt and his wife, Debora, of Winslow; several great-nephews and -nieces and great-grand-nephews and -nieces.

She was predeceased by a brother, Prescott Jackins, and a sister, Myrtle Weigelt, niece, Dorothy Vrabic and nephew, David Jackins.

A private graveside service and burial is scheduled for the spring in Pine Grove Cemetery, in Waterville.

Arrangement are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

IAN W. LADD

OAKLAND – Ian William Ladd, 28, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Ian was born in Waterville, on December 16, 1991, to parents Jonathan and Catherine (Kivlin) Ladd.

Ian always had such appreciation and love for animals and the outdoors. Even as a young boy, Ian would collect all the insects he could find in the yard. He did this so often that his mother started calling him the family entomologist. Later in his adolescence Ian would find solace in playing video games, collecting as many consoles as he could throughout the years. Ian was known for making others laugh. He loved producing parodies for his family and friends to enjoy. His friends and family will miss his wit and unique sense of humor.

Ian was predeceased by his father, Jonathan Ladd, and his brother-in-law, Gary Lee.

Ian is survived by his mother, Catherine Ladd; his sisters, Erin (Ladd) Lee and Caitlin Ladd; his nieces, Abby Lee, Katie Lee, Catarina Hellman, and Isabella Hellman; his girlfriend, Andi Hatake; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be held at Fairfield United Methodist Church, 37 Skowhegan Road, Fairfield, Maine 04937, on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, from 4 – 7 p.m. Masks and social distancing are required as you pay your respects.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home.

Condolences and memories can be shared by visiting Ian’s guestbook at http://www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com.

RINA A. DAIGNEAULT

OAKLAND – Rina Alice (Albert) Daigneault, 77, of Oakland, passed way on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, following a long battle with dementia. Rina was born in New Brunswick, Canada, on December 14, 1942, the daughter of John and Rita Albert.

She attended St. Basile elementary and high schools, in Canada, and Notre-Dame D’Acadie, in Moncton, New Brunswick. Rina worked at Pine Acres restaurant as a waitress and then moved on to Key Bank, in Oakland, for 17 years. She started as a teller and then became a CD and loan specialist.

Rina became a citizen of the United States on March 24, 1995. Rina loved to travel with her husband of 57 years and being with her family. She will always be remembered for her great sense of humor, loving, caring, and giving ways. Her faith was exceptionally strong. She lived her life doing for others and lived by the words, “whatever you give you get back 10-fold.”

She was predeceased by her parents, John and Rita Albert.

Rina is survived by her husband, Roland Daigneault, of Oakland; her daughters, Michelle Gilbert and husband Douglas, of Fayette, Karen Daigneault, of Florida, Pauline Morin, of Waterboro; her grandchildren, Brian McCutcheon, Sean McCutcheon, Anthony Romano, Niki Romano, Justine Boss, and Kristen Boss;her; sisters, Pauline Cyr and husband Jimmy, of Florida, Gisele Cyr, of Youngsville, Louisiana; her brothers, Robert Albert, of Florida, Jerry Albert and wife Nancy, of Ohio; and many nephews and nieces.

Due to Covid-19, services at this time are being delayed until further notice.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

RICHARD E. WILLETTE

WATERVILLE – Richard E. Willette, of China, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December. 2, 2020, at Maine General. in Waterville. Richard was born in Augusta on April 19, 1945.

He attended Augusta schools and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962, where he served in Korea.

He was an avid hunter and was very proud of his trophies he would hang on his walls. Richard was a lifetime member of Forrest J. Pare VFW Post #1285, in Waterville, where he served as commander for three years.

Richard owned and operated the South End Cafe, in Waterville, with his wife. He also owned a construction company and a trucking company. Richard was a man of many talents and will be missed by many.

CORRECTION

ROYCE B. NELSON

A graveside service for Royce B. Nelson, 87, who passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020, at the Maine Veterans Home, in Augusta, will be held in the spring 2021 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta. The original service was postponed due to Covid-19 complications.