JANET B. LYNDS

HOULTON – Janet B. Lynds, 89, passed away Dec. 7, 2008, at Sedgewood Commons, Falmouth. She was born Oct. 3, 1919, in Bridgewater, the daughter of Elwood and Mary Celia (Estey) Brewer. Raised in Bridgewater, Janet attended local schools and graduated from Bridgewater Classical Academy in 1938. She married William Robert Lynds, Jan. 24, 1942, and spent the next 40 years of her life raising a family and helping her husband build and manage Lynds Machine Shop from its inception in 1957 until they retired in 1982. In retirement, Janet and Willie loved to travel in their motor home, and they made trips to Alaska and other parts of the U.S. to visit family and friends. Janet was always busy with her hobbies, of which she never seemed to tire. She would spend hours making perfect quilting stitches and many of her quilts won awards. She also enjoyed bowling, cross-country skiing and reading. She was never without a book in the evening. She made time to volunteer at Houlton Regional Hospital and helped run the hospital gift shop. She was an active member of First Congregational Church. One of her other interests was tap dancing, and she would often entertain at family and school reunions. Her home was always an inviting place where everyone could gather for holidays and special occasions. Janet was predeceased by her husband, William Robert Lynds, in 2005; her brothers, Gerald, Merrill, Floyd and Calvin; and her sister, Maxine Savoie. She is survived by three daughters, Carolyn Cheney and her husband, Joseph, of Presque Isle, Maryadele Grant and her husband, Reginald, and Corrine Bongiovanni and her husband, Donald Sipe, all of Windham; a grandson, Cale Thaddeus Grant of Windham; a granddaughter, Lyndsey Jo Maynard and her husband, Jonathan, of Fort Fairfield; two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Jorja Lynds Maynard of Fort Fairfield; her sister, Edris Poirier of Maryland; a close family friend and former son-in-law, Rob Bongiovanni and his wife, Lisa, of Winslow; several nieces and nephews. Our family extends a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful neighbors and friends, Valerie and Vaughn Gove for their care and concern for our parents through the years. Also, the family is very grateful to the professional and caring staff at Sedgewood Commons and Beacon Hospice. Friends may call noon until the time of service Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at First Congregational Church, High Street, Houlton, where services will be held 1 p.m. Janet loved her church and to those who would like to honor her memory, a donation may be made to First Congregational Church, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.