MARIELLEN MACE SIEMION

AURORA – Mariellen Mace Siemion died Oct. 24, 2008, in the presence of her children and in the arms of angels on a beautiful fall morning and after a brief stay at a Bangor health care facility. Mary was born July 29, 1928, at home in Aurora, the seventh of nine children to Asa Russell and Gladys Tracey Mace. She lived and loved life on her own terms in the place she loved the most in the world, Aurora. She was a devoted mother, “Ooma,” grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, and will be missed a great deal. Mary graduated from Higgins Classical Institute, one of eight students, in 1945. Mary attended Washington State Normal School, Machias, and taught school at Pershing School, Amherst, and at a school in Sebois Plantation. In 1953 she married Joseph Siemion of the Bronx, N.Y., and stationed at Dow Airforce Base. They eventually made their home at “the George Dorr Residence,” Aurora. There she raised five children and had an open door invitation and included in her world many nieces, nephews and friends. Mary worked at Mace’s store, at home and for many years, at Union River Telephone Co., Aurora. She was a correspondent of town news for the Ellsworth American and a town clerk and selectman of Aurora. After her sister, Dot, died Mary lovingly included into her heart and home, Susanne Dennis Kuehl, Kelly Dennis, Dyan Dennis Kosikowski and Karen Dennis Binswanger. Mary was very, very dear to many people. We will miss her extraordinary sense of humor, the jumble and crossword puzzle expertise, daily advice about manners and life, funny poems and songs, shooting at white tailed deer on Route 9, literary talks, a voracious appetite for reading-especially memoirs, trips to the library, quilts, magazines, good company, politics, popping peas, Chinese food, corn chowder, her telling us to “Offer it up,” Slingslong Salacity and a strong stubborn spirit. An avid reader she enjoyed her daily newspaper and from her reading chose this poem. “When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not here to see. If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me. I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did that day, while thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say. I know how much you love me as much as I love you and each time that you think of me I know you’ll miss me too. But when tomorrow starts without me please try to understand that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, and said my place is ready in heaven far above, and that I’ll have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turn to walk away a tear fell from my eye, for all of life I’d always thought I didn’t want to die. I had too much to live for, so much yet to do, it seems almost impossible that I was leaving you. So when tomorrow starts without me don’t think we’re far apart. For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.” -Author unknown Mary will be deeply missed by her daughter, Tracey Siemion O’Connell and husband, Steve and their children, Moira and Fiona of Orono; and her sons, Michael A. Siemion of Aurora and Errol, N.H., Joe Siemion Jr. and wife, Arlene and their children, Danielle, Victoria, Austin and Michayla of Germantown, Pa., Brandon Siemion and children, Kristin, Brandon and Nicholas of Furlong, Pa., and Dan Siemion of Aurora and Errol, N.H.; and a stepson, Robert Siemion and wife, Christine and their children of Wilson, N.C. Additional survivors include her sister, Charlotte Whitman and husband, Don, of Seaford, Va.; brother-in-law, Robert Dennis of Massachusetts; and sisters-in-law, Lorraine Mace of Rockland and Betty Makevich of Moose Hill. She leaves behind many dear and loving nieces and nephews, and loving and caring friends especially, Inga Hansen and family of Ivoryton, Conn., Stella Neubauer of Clinton, Conn., Sylvia Jordan Sawyer of Moose Hill and Robert Lawrence of Brewer. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by, her brothers and sisters, Douglass A. Mace, Asa R. Mace, Bertha Mace Roderick, Helen Mace, Frank E. Mace II, Dorothy Mace Dennis and Ansel Jefferson Mace; and by a niece and nephews, Marlene Mace Hodgins, Douglass Mace Jr., Russell Roderick, Trent Gleason and Frank Mace III. Her family expresses special thanks to extraordinary care providers, Dr. Heather Evans and Ann Dubay, R.N., Dr. Berry and the resident physicians from The Center for Family Medicine, Mary Dority and Carol Doane Long from New Hope Hospice, and the wonderful care providers at Ross Manor, Bangor. At Mary’s and the family’s request, all are welcome to attend a graveside service 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at Aurora Cemetery, Route 179, Aurora, with a reception immediately after to celebrate her life with family and friends at her home, 111 Richardson Road, Aurora. For those who wish, donations may be made in her memory to New Hope Hospice, P.O. Box 757, Holden, ME 04429. Condolences may also be offered at http://legacy.com/bangornews/Obituaries.asp.