OAKLAND – Mabel “Peggy” Conroy Gilman, 82, passed away peacefully Sept. 10, 2005, at the home of her son, Larry Gilman Jr., in Sidney, where she had stayed during the last weeks of her life, where she loved to be, overlooking the lake, and having all her family surrounding her. Every day was a celebration of her life as all her friends and relatives congregated daily to entertain and visit her. Peggy was the daughter of Joseph and Lula Conroy. She grew up in Caribou and still called it home, where she visited each year, the home she grew up in that is still in the family. She made a trip in July to meet her first great-grand-son, Ethan. She married Lawrence Gilman Sr., in August of 1941. They were married 47 years, before he passed away in 1988. She worked at Sunset Home in Waterville for 25 years. In 1991, she was voted employee of the year and came in second in the State of Maine’s Employee of the year. Most of Peggy’s life was spent living on the Smithfield Road in Oakland. Throughout the years she took in many of her grandchildren, children, and nieces, and gave them a place to stay during transitions. “Ped” as her grandchildren called her, dedicated her life to her family. She loved traveling to Las Vegas every winter with Larry before he passed away. Everyone eagerly awaited their arrival home each year waiting for gifts and stories. She was so looking forward to meeting her next great-grandson, Harrison, who is due to be born this month. She was also fortunate enough to be able to meet her new great-grand daughter, Audrey who was born in August. Her family will dearly miss her, as she was the center of all of our lives. She never missed a family gathering, or an invite to lunch. She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence Gilman Sr., in 1988; and her son, James Conroy Gilman in 2003; her brothers, Peter and Ralph Conroy; her sisters, Leola Ouellette, Ethel Lovely and Dorothy Monson. Survivors include her son, Lawrence Gilman Jr. of Sidney and his girlfriend, Terry Hoag, of Oakland; grandchildren, Laurie Tompkins of Winthrop, Wendy Lewis of Oakland, their mother, Rebecca Lucas, of Winthrop, Tammy Gilman of South Carolina, Amy Dolley and husband, Billy, of Winslow, and their mother, Bonnie Stronacch of Oakland, Greg Gilman of Waterville, Kristen Kimball and husband, Tucker, of Whitefield, Ryan Gilman of Fort Kent, and their mother, Gloria Gilman of Auburn; great-grandchildren, Tasia and Leisha Lewis, Willa and Audrey Dolley and Ethan Gilman; sister, Josephine Olmstead and husband, Dale, of New Sweden; sister-in-law, Marilee Conroy of Woodland, sister-in-law, Helen LaVerdiere of Waterville; brother-in-law, Robert Lovely of Waterville; brother-in-law, Roy Gilman and wife, Joanne, of Fairfield; niece, Cathy Seluke, of Sidney, who stayed by her side in the hospital and home. Several loved nieces and nephews and friends. Sometimes people are taken from us early and we do not understand why, but God has a plan for all of us. At her request there will be no visiting hours. A graveside funeral service will be held Noon Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta. In lieu of flowers those who wish may make memorial donations to Oakland Rescue care of Charles Pullen, P.O. Box 187, Oakland, ME 04963 Arrangements are by Wheeler Funeral Home of Oakland.
MABEL ‘PEGGY’ CONROY GILMAN
