SYLVIA ‘VI’ OUELLET

FORT KENT – Sylvia “Vi” Ouellet passed away Oct. 29, 2009, as a result of injuries sustained from an accidental fall at her home. Born Aug. 1, 1925, the sixth of eight children born to George and Leona Roy, Vi lived all of her life in Fort Kent. She was educated in Fort Kent schools, and after graduation at the age of 16, went to work for the telephone company. In 1947 she married Ludger “Lou” Ouellet and started their family of five children and three grandchildren, all of whom she was forever proud. Always interested in benefiting her community, Vi was active with a variety of groups. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Louis Church, a member of Ladies of St. Anne and Northern Maine Medical Center Guild, a charter member of Fort Kent Golf Course and a tireless volunteer for Fort Kent Senior Citizens’ Organization, as well as Ecumenical Food Pantry. Everything in which she participated, she did so with dedication and a commitment to excellence. That was certainly true with her career at Fort Kent Credit Union, now known as Acadia Federal Credit Union. Vi was the first manager of the credit union since its inception in 1963 to her retirement in 1983. In spite of her commitment to hard work, Vi knew how to enjoy life. She had many hobbies and interests that grew with intensity as she aged. She and Lou loved to snowmobile, and spent many wintry afternoons riding the trails and sampling fares at St. John Valley restaurants. After retirement she learned how to golf and spent good times with friends playing bridge. She was an exceptional cook whose tender pie crusts could not be matched; her almost weedless vegetable garden, though smaller each year, was the talk of the neighborhood; and picking fiddleheads and strawberries brought her many hours of enjoyment. Her strongest passion, however, was fishing. Whether it was trolling, smelting, plug fishing or ice fishing, she lived to fish and to share her catch with hungry family and friends. Her other love was being at the family camp on Eagle Lake, “The Seven Os.” Vi was a perfect hostess at camp, making it the center and annual gathering place for all the family parties, anniversaries and even wedding receptions. She will be sadly missed by all who considered her the heart and soul of the Ouellet and Roy families. Vi is survived by her husband of 62 years, Lou; and five children, Louise and her husband, Kenneth Kirkland, of Brewer, Jim and his wife, Marie, of Sebastian, Fla., Bob and his wife, Valerie, of Wallagrass, Susan and her husband, Chuck Pozanac, of Riverside, Calif., and Denise of North Yarmouth. She also leaves three very special grandsons, Aaron and Mitchell Ouellet of South Portland and Austin Nowinski of North Yarmouth. In addition she is survived by three siblings, Juliette Gagnon, Clifford Roy and his wife, Annette, and Valerie Smith and her husband, Jim. Vi was predeceased by her parents and four sisters. Friends may call 8 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday at Daigle & Nadeau Funeral Home, Fort Kent. The funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. In lieu of flowers, Vi would have liked donations in her memory given to the hospital guild, St. Louis Church Renovation Fund or the charity of one’s choice.