ARVILLA (RANNEY) VERCELES

BANGOR – Arvilla (Ranney) Verceles, 85, died peacefully March 3, 2005, at her Bangor home. She was born April 21, 1919, in Dixmont, the daughter of Jerius and Roseanne (Brown) Cookson. She was raised by her maternal uncle and aunt, Wilbur and Priscilla (Stevens) Brown of Dixmont. Arvilla was a graduate of Orono High School. She was employed in a variety of retail ventures and was co-owner of the Alert Cleaners of Bangor. Mrs. Verceles was also active in many civic, political and service organizations. She was the Executive Director of the Miss Bangor and Miss Maine Scholarship pageants; served on the Board of Directors at the Levinson Center; the Bangor Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Penobscot County chapter of the Maine Cancer Society. In addition, she served as chairperson of the Bangor Democratic Party and later served as the Secretary of the Bangor Republican Party. She was the founder of the Hilltop Community Club and the Coalition of Preserve Pooler Pavilion at Bangor Mental Health Institute. Recently, Mrs. Verceles was the District Coordinator for AARP and was a volunteer assisting low income persons with tax preparation. She was a Notary Public and Dedimus Justice of the State of Maine. Mrs. Verceles was active at St. Mary’s Parish, Bangor, where she served as a greeter and a member of the bereavement ministry. She was predeceased by her husband, Anthony Verceles; and four brothers, Norman Cookson, Clyde Brown, Hubert Brown and Wilbur Brown Jr. She is survived by three sons, Wilbur Ranney and his wife, Judee, of Ellsworth, Stuart Ranney of Bangor and Dennis Ranney and his wife, Sharon, of Fairfield, Pa.; one daughter, Brenda Donroe and her husband, Bill, of Londonderry, N.H.; six grandchildren, Michelle Deyonne, Michael Ranney, Tony Ranney, Dawn Dixon, Angela (Donroe) Burnford, and Scott Donroe; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Friends may call 2-6 p.m. Sunday at Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Spring interment will be in the family lot at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Etna. Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to St. Mary’s Church, 768 Ohio St., Bangor, ME 04401.