PRESQUE ISLE – Mary L. Ferland, 82, wife of Richard C. Ferland, died New Years Day, Jan. 1, 2009, at a Caribou health facility, after a long illness. Mary was born Jan. 9, 1927, in Fort Fairfield, daughter of Edward M. and Hilda Williams Lynch. Mary spent her early years with her family and among her closest relatives in River de Chute, Easton, and attended both Ladner and Mahany country schools. She moved with her family to Fort Fairfield in 1935, where she attended Fort Fairfield schools and graduated in 1944 from Fort Fairfield High School. That same year, she lost her mother to cancer and for the next several years, much of the care for her younger brothers and sisters rested upon her. During that time she also worked as a receptionist for a local physician and was a catalogue salesperson for the local Sears Roebuck & Co. order office. Mary attended St. Dennis Catholic Church and belonged to Daughters of Isabella. Mary was married to Richard C. Ferland, April 19, 1949. After their marriage they resided in Presque Isle, where he continued to work in his family’s business, Ferland’s Market and Taxi Service and Mary at Sears department store. Mary was an excellent accountant, adapting easily to computers when they came into use. She worked much of her life in that capacity while raising her family and establishing a warm and comfortable home where friends and family were always welcome. She never had to look far for a job and through the years was employed by some of the city’s busiest companies: O’Donnell’s Express, Rathbun Co., the city of Presque Isle and SAD 1. In her spare time, she had many hobbies such as making ceramics, sewing and cooking. She loved music and the time spent with “Dick” at Echo Lake. She adored her Siamese cat, “Suzie,” and while still well enough, enjoyed the retirement home, which they built at Echo Lake. She was predeceased by her parents; and two brothers, Clement and Clarence Lynch. She is survived by her husband, Richard of Presque Isle; a daughter, Catherine L. Rancourt and husband, John, of Edmundston, New Brunswick; a son, Richard S. Ferland and wife, Shelley, of Evergreen, Colo.; one granddaughter, Mary Kate Rancourt of Ontario; two brothers, Eugene T. Lynch and his wife, Florence, of Presque Isle and Lawrence Lynch and his wife, Mona, of Fort Fairfield; two sisters, Edwena Gagnon and her husband, Richard, of Fort Fairfield and Elaine Thomas and her husband, John, of Arlington, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Inez Lynch of Fort Fairfield and Rollande Lynch of Saco; many cousins, nieces and nephews. There will be no visiting hours or funeral at this time. Arrangements are being made for a committal service to be held in the spring at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, Caribou. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
MARY LYNCH FERLAND
