BANGOR – Alexina Sloane, an active and respected leader in our community, passed away Oct. 25, 2009, in Fort Myers, Fla. She was born Laura Alexina Michaud, June 7, 1912, in Van Buren. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, William J. Sloane, in 1992; and by seven of her six sisters and three brothers. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Everett Murch of Fort Myers, Fla., and Searsport; her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Ada Sloane of Harrisburg, Penn., and Surry; her sister and brother-in-law, Jeannette and Charles Nicholson of Clewiston, Fla.; her sister-in-law, Mary Charette of Dover, N.J.; as well as five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. For many years she was a leading businesswoman in Bangor and owner/operator of East Side Beauty Shop. She was president of Altrusa – a professional businesswomen’s association; recipient of numerous awards from New England Cosmetology Association; president of the women’s arm of Bangor United Commercial Travelers – UCT; and active on numerous local community boards and committees in Bangor, and her retirement community of Lehigh Acres, Fla. She was a founding member of Bangor Civic Theatre and performed many leading roles with them as well as UCT and other community productions. She also joined many vocal and acting productions in Lehigh, Fla. She and her husband were avid golfers, winning numerous local and regional championships in both Central Maine and Lehigh Acres, Fla. Prior to her marriage, she lived with her family in Van Buren. She graduated from Bangor High School in 1931 and Aroostook State Normal School, now the University of Maine at Presque Isle, in 1933, after which she taught elementary school in Van Buren. During this time, she sang and played clarinet in the town band, taught music lessons and ran a dancing school. She was selected as Van Buren Movie Queen and starred in a promotional film for the town. She married William J. Sloane, Oct. 17, 1936, and lived in Bangor, where William worked for Eastern Maine Beauty and Barber Supply Co. After their retirement in 1973, they resided on Swan Lake, Searsport, in summers and Lehigh Acres, Fla., in winters. Our communities and her family have lost an active and popular leader, who was well known for her effusive and positive personality and her zest for life. She was active in St. John’s Catholic Church, Bangor; St. Raphael’s, Lehigh Acres, Fla.; and St. Columbkille, Fort Myers, Fla. Rest well beloved mother, sister and friend. You will be sorely missed. A graveside service will be held 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. Friends may call noon-2:30 p.m. prior to the graveside service at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor, immediately after the graveside service. Gifts in her honor may be sent to Hope Hospice at Shell Point, care of The Legacy Foundation at Shell Point, 15010 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33908. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com. “I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to Him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting and to rest.” 2 Timothy 4:7
ALEXINA SLOANE
