WOODLAND – Verdena “Dena” Koivula, 85, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many, died peacefully July 4, 2007, surrounded by her family at her home, after a brief illness. She was born Dec. 12, 1921, in Oakfield, the daughter of Wayne and Elizabeth (Noyes) Lawler. She attended the Oakfield schools and later received her GED at age 55 from Contoocook Valley Regional School District, Peterborough, N.H. Dena enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing, the seasons of farm life, reading, her pets, hosting luncheons for special friends and family activities. She will be remembered and missed for her quick wit, compassion, wisdom and sense of adventure she shared with others. Dena is survived by her children; one son, Reginald Withee and his wife, Linda, of Searsmont; two daughters, Gail Maynard and her husband, Stanley, of Woodland, and Diane Nopanen of Holly Hill, Fla.; her grandchildren, Michael Maynard and his wife, Margot, of Hancock, N.H., Gail Hagemen and her husband, Charlie, of Ormand Beach, Fla., David Nopanen and his wife, Therese, of South Daytona, Fla., Christine Dow and her husband, Omar, of North Pole, Alaska, and Robert Withee and his wife, Brenda, of Sears-mont; great-grandchildren, Zachary Maynard, Teresa Kimball, Nathan Gnade, Jared Treshinsky, Eric Nopanen, Kevin and Lena Hageman, Nelson and Brenda Liz Maldonado, Morgan and Hayle Withee, Ethan, Lizzie and Evan Dow; one brother, Don Lawler and his wife, Mary, of Sharon, N.H.; a sister-in-law, Reba Lawler of Victorville, Calif.; many nieces and nephews. Dena was predeceased by her husband, Urho Koivula, in 1975; a brother, Eldon Lawler, in 2004; and an infant daughter, in 1942. The family extends their appreciation for the exceptional care and services provide by Hospice of Aroostook. Private family services will be held at a later date. Those wishing to honor Dena’s mem-ory in a special way may do so through Visiting Nurses of Aroostook/Hospice of Aroostook, P.O. Box 688, Caribou, ME 04736. Arrangements by Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou. For online register, please visit www.mocklerfuneralhome.com
VERDENA ‘DENA’ KOIVULA
