NEWPORT – Joyce Eileen (Holman) Pepin, 78, went to be with our Lord June 10, 2009, surrounded by her loving family at her home. She was born Jan. 22, 1931, in Rumford, a daughter of Harold and Agnes (Harlow) Holman. Joyce was a Mayflower descendant of Richard Warren and was a descendant of Col. Jonathan Holman, founder of Dixfield, formerly named Holmanville. She was a 1949 graduate of Dixfield High School and was selected the “All Around Female Student” for her participation in sports, music, drama, cheerleading and class/club leadership. She was salutatorian of her class and was crowned queen of Dixfield High School’s first Winter Carnival. Joyce worked eight years as secretary at Timberlands, Inc., Dixfield; one year in the office of Charles Crossland, assistant to the president of the University of Maine, Orono; served as town clerk and tax collector for the town of Newport for three years; and was employed as a secretary-real estate salesperson at Pine Cone Realty, Newport, until her retirement. She was a communicant of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Pittsfield. She had served as secretary of the Bishop’s Campaign, church typist, choir member, church lector, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, CCD teacher and co-coordinator. She was involved as a PAL cheerleading coach, homeroom mother, Cub Scout leader, ballot clerk, substitute teacher, Dixfield Social Club member, secretary of Dixfield High School Alumni Association, Little League assistant baseball coach, a Sesqui-Belle, volunteer for Sebasticook Valley Community Center and president of SAD 48 Music Boosters. Joyce was happiest when she had her family around her. The highlights of the year were Christmas, their annual camping trip to Papoose Pond Campground and Resort, and Holman family reunions. She adored her grandchildren and shared many ties with them. Joyce was a very thoughtful, loving and caring person and will be greatly missed by those lives she touched. On Feb. 25, 1956, Joyce married Paul Joseph Pepin, a former high school teacher and coach at Searsport, Newport and Nokomis Regional high schools. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Michael Pepin of Oakland, and David Pepin and fiancee, Diane Whitmore, of Newport; two daughters, Cheryl and husband, Francis Gonzalez, of Newport, and Sandra and husband, Brett Crosby, of Hermon; 11 grandchildren, Christopher and Jinger Pepin, Jeremy, Rachelle, Brianna and Kyle Pepin, Kerianne Neans, Nicholas, Anthony and Kristina Gonzalez, and Andrew and Katie Jo Crosby; four great-grandchildren, Natalea and Silas Pepin, Faith Neans, and baby boy Pepin due in July; a sister, Barbara Kendall of Brunswick; many special nieces, nephews and friends. Joyce was predeceased by two sisters, Hazel Hardy and Sylvia Gordon; and five brothers, Kenneth, Clayton, Lauren, Harold Jr. and Elwood. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Monday, June 15, at Crosby & Neal, 117 Main St., Newport. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Newport. In lieu of flowers, at Joyce’s request, donations may be made to the Kyle David Pepin Fund, care of Sandi Crosby, 916 Fuller Road, Hermon, ME 04401. Kyle is waging a difficult battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Those who wish may sign an online guest register and leave written tributes at www.CrosbyNeal.com.
JOYCE (HOLMAN) PEPIN
