LORENZA B. PIPER

AUGUSTA – Lorenza B. Piper, 82, a resident of Academy Road, Monmouth, died Friday, July 2, 2004, at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta following a long illness. She was born June 12, 1922, in Quincy, Mass., the daughter of Franklin and Harriett McLucas Butman. Lorenza attended Holton High School in Danvers, Mass., and graduated in 1939. She continued her education at Nasson College, in Springvale. On Dec. 25, 1944, she married Donald A. Piper Sr. in Monmouth, he died Aug. 9, 1978. Lorenza assisted her husband at the family farm market garden, apple, poultry and tree. Hard work was a way of life for Lorenza. She received her masters of education from University of Maine, Orono in 1962. She taught Home Economics at Wellfleet High School in Wellfleet, Mass., from 1943-1944; Monmouth Academy from 1945-1946. She then went on to be an assistant manager at the EUCOM Post Exchange, Augsburg and Frankfurt, Germany from 1946-1948, becoming registrar at Frankfurt TI & E Army Education Center, in Frankfurt, Germany from 1948-1951. At that time she returned to Maine and taught Home Economics at Limington Academy, from 1951-1952. From 1956-1958 Lorenza was principal and teacher at the American Community School, in Saigon, Vietnam. Lorenza taught and was dept. head of Home Economics in Lewiston, from 1952-1982 at Jordan, Montello and Lewiston High School. She was Teacher of the Year for the State of Maine in 1982. She retired in 1982, going to help her Aunt Bertha Smith in Waterboro, after her aunt’s death she returned to Monmouth where she finished putting together her latest book called “The Shepard’s Scrolls,” a story of the “Fourth Wiseman,” his travels to Bethlehem, tying into the Christmas story. She was past president of the Maine Home Economics Teachers Assoc., past president for four years of the Androscoggin Retired Teachers Assoc., a member of the American Home Economics Assoc., Maine Home Economics Assoc., Maine Teachers Assoc., Maine Vocational Assoc., Lewiston Teachers Assoc., Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Maine Retired Teachers Assoc., National Education Assoc., Women’s Legislative Council of Maine, Monmouth Grange No. 39, Maine Farm Bureau, American Tree Farmers, a member and good friend of Margaret Chase Smith Library, past matron of Boynton Chapter OES, past Worthy High Priestess of the Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem of Maine and New Hampshire, active member of the Nasson College Alumni Assoc., Saint Stephen The Martyr Episcopal Church, Small Woodland Owner’s Assoc. of Maine, St. Mark’s Home for Women in Augusta, Monmouth Historical Society, University of Maine at Orono Alumni Assoc., Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. Foundation Inc., Waterboro Historical Society former member of the Board of Directors for the Monmouth Credit Union and annual supporter of the American Cancer Assoc. Lorenza is survived by two sons, Guy W.A. Piper of Monmouth, and Donald A. Piper Jr. and his wife, Sharon, of Levant; three grandchildren, Beth Amy Piper of Levant, Donald A. Piper III and Brent O. Piper, both of Stetson; one sister, Bertha B. Heacock of Arizona. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at United Church of Monmouth, Main Street, Monmouth, with the Rev. Gerhardt Miller officiating. Visiting hours will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Bragdon-Finley Funeral Home, 707 Main St., Monmouth where the Boynton Chapter OES will meet 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. Interment will be at the families’ convenience. If desired, contributions may be made to a scholarship fund, known as Donald A. Piper Sr. Fund, 137 Academy Road, Monmouth, ME 04259. A memorial service to be announced at a later date will be held at Saint Stephen The Martyr Episcopal Church, East Waterboro. Letters of condolence may be sent to bfinley@prexar.com.