VEAZIE – Rena A. French Lowell, died Feb. 25, 2006. She was born Nov. 7, 1908, in Easton, the daughter of Selden and Gertrude (Bridgham) Wheeler. At age 11 she moved to East Corinth. Rena graduated from East Corinth Academy and attended summer sessions at Aroostook State College, which was Aroostook State Normal School in Presque Isle. Rena received a bachelor’s of science degree in education from the University of Maine, Orono in 1961. She taught school for 28 years in Hampden, Bangor and Brewer. Her first school assignment was as a teacher of all grades in a one room school at the Bay School in the town of Penobscot. She taught 6th grade at the Weatherbee School in Hampden. She was a teacher of mathematics in the 7th grade at Garland Street Junior High, Bangor and head teacher at Washington Street School in Brewer. She held many positions in the field of education and church activities. Rena was president for two years 1966-1968 of Delta Gamma Society, International, Alpha Chapter, Bangor and a member of the Maine Retired Teachers Association. After her retirement she moved to Florida for the winter months and to Bangor for the summer months. She spent 22 winters in Seminole, Fla. Rena enjoyed singing and sang in different church choirs for many years. For a time she sang with the “Sunshine Girls” singing at nursing homes and other places. She was an active member of the Veazie Senior Citizens Club. After many winters spent in Florida she moved to Veazie for her later years. On June 17, 1988, she married Kenneth Lowell. She was predeceased by her first husband, Kenneth French on Dec. 31, 1951; two sisters, Ethelyn Perkins and Mary Ellen Faloon; one brother, Edwin Wheeler. The family would like to express a special thank you to the neighbors for their help and care, Carol and Lou Thompson and Ted and Mae Purvis. Surviving are her husband, Kenneth Lowell of Veazie; two daughters, Marian French of Brewer and Elsie Rich of Natick, Mass.; two granddaughters, Vangie Alston and her husband, Rick, of Newport News, Va. and Carol Strout and her husband, Stan, of Kenansville, Fla.; two grandsons, Brent Compton and his wife, Lisa, of Trussville, Ala. and David Rich and his wife, Cheryl, of Lexington, N.C.; eight great-grandchildren, Kailey, Cole and Connor Compton, Lauren, Alan and Caitlin Duncan, Jennifer and Jonathan Rich; one sister, Minnie Hurd of West Yarmouth, Mass.; several nieces and nephews including a special niece, Adine Frost. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor with the Rev. Ron Libby, pastor of Souls Harbor Ministries, officiating. Relatives and friends are welcome to call noon until time of service Thursday. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Gifts in her memory may be sent to Souls Harbor Ministries, P.O. Box 275, Corinth, ME 04427.
RENA FRENCH LOWELL
