NEW SWEDEN and LEXINGTON, S.C. – Coleen Holmquist Lajoie, 52, passed away quietly July 20, 2007, at her son’s home in Virginia Beach, Va. She was born Dec. 3, 1955, and was the daughter of Linwood and the late Geneva (Rackliffe) Holmquist of New Sweden. Coleen was educated in New Sweden and Caribou school systems. She attended Southern Maine Vocational Institute, where she studied culinary arts. She married and moved to South Carolina, where she lived for about 30 years. She earned her certified nurse’s aide degree and worked in home care and nursing home situations. Coleen enjoyed going to flea markets and thrift stores to find clothes to redesign for others. She was a friend to all. She will be sadly missed by her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Jennie Lajoie; her father, Linwood Holmquist of New Sweden; her sisters, Judy Holmquist of Caribou and Nancy Holmquist Roble of New Sweden; her brothers, Larry Holmquist and his wife, Rachel, of Saco and Kris Holmquist of New Sweden; her niece and husband, Melanie and David Weiss of Saco; and nephews, Mark Holmquist and his wife, Devra and children, Andrew and Audrey of East Waterboro and Niklas Roble of New Sweden. She was predeceased by her mother, Geneva Holmquist; and brother-in-law, Keith Roble. A private family committal will take place 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at New Sweden Cemetery. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. at the New Sweden Covenant Church. Pastor Shelly Timber will preside over the services. Those wish-ing to honor Coleen’s memory may do so by donating to the “Help Me” fund of the Battered Women’s Project. Envelopes will be available at the Covenant Church on the day of the service or can be mailed to the Battered Women’s Project, 421 Main St., Suite 2, Presque Isle, ME 04769. Arrangements in care of Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover St., Caribou.
COLEEN HOLMQUIST LAJOIE
