WEST ROCKPORT – Jean Marie (Ouellette) Hamalainen, 58, passed away peacefully Monday, July 2, 2007, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer, at home. The daughter of Oneil and Anita (Babin) Ouellette, Jean was born at Eagle Lake, and grew up on a potato farm in New Canada Plantation, near Fort Kent, with her parents and four brothers. She graduated from Fort Kent Community School in 1967, and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Southern Maine in 1971 and a master’s in early literacy education from the University of Maine in 2000. Jean was actively involved in education from the start of her career at Monson Elementary School in 1971 until her retirement from Warren Community School in 2006. When her three children were small, she ran a successful nursery school in her home. Later, she loved her work teaching second grade and Reading Recovery. Faith and family were the center of Jean’s life. She was deeply committed to building her family, church and community. At various times she was active in La Leche League, 4-H, cooperative extension, Catholic youth ministry and the International Reading Association. She had a deep love for her Catholic faith and was an active communicant of Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, Camden. Known for her boundless energy and enthusiasm for life, Jean had many interests, including enjoying her children and grandchildren, knitting, sewing, gardening, skiing, camping, kayaking, reading, walking and using her family’s traditional Finnish sauna with her many friends. Jean is survived by her husband of 36 years, Robert Hamalainen of West Rockport; son, Daniel and wife, Maureen, of Somerville, Mass.; daughter, Anita and husband, Scott Snyder, of Cleveland; son, James and wife, Yami, of South Paris; grandchildren, Molly Ham-alainen of Somerville, Mass., and Alli, Adam, Abbey and Aaron Nolan of South Paris; her four brothers, Hubert and wife, Janet, of Cross Lake, James and wife, Sharon, of Fort Fairfield, Ralph and wife, Dora, of Millinocket and Karl and wife, Carrie, of Fort Kent; her mother-in-law, Dorothy Hamalainen of Camden; her brother-in-law, Donald Ham-alainen and wife, Carol, of Yarmouth; and 11 nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by her parents, Oneil and Anita Ouelette; and her father-in-law, David Hamalainen. Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 6, at Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden. A memorial service with a reception after will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 7, at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, 7 Union St., Camden. Memorial donations may be made in Jean’s memory to Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church or Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841.
JEAN M. HAMALAINEN
