PATRICIA A. RIER

MACHIAS – Patricia A. Rier, 78, went quietly to be with the Lord during the early morning hours of July 5, 2010, at home. Our mother will be dearly missed. She was born Nov. 29, 1931, in Lubec, daughter of the late Frank and Elizabeth (Keegan) Rier. Patricia graduated from Lubec High School in 1950 and received an associate degree in business from Husson College in 1981. As a teenager, Patricia worked in a local sardine factory. She loved spending her spare time at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. After graduating from high school she lived with her older sister, Marion, in Charlestown, Mass., and attended Burdett College, Boston, while working as a secretary at Shawmut Bank. After her marriage to Vernon M. Lord, Nov. 2, 1951, his job in the insurance industry had them living in such places as Concord, N.H., Avon, Conn., Portland, Ellsworth and Manset before settling down in Machias. They also spent time in Philadelphia in the mid-1950s for Vernon’s job. They lived in the same hotel as the local professional baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies, and Patricia and her children, Gene and Cyndy, befriended some of the baseball players with families since Gene would walk up to the families while there. While raising her six children, Patricia worked alongside her former husband for more than 20 years at Vernon M. Lord Insurance Agency. A few years after her divorce, she started her own successful insurance agency, Patricia A. Rier Insurance Agency. In her younger years, Patricia was known by her children’s friends to make the best whoopie pies in the neighborhood. Some of these children became her customers and would sit and reminisce about those whoopie pies. She was a talented oil painter. She also enjoyed latch hook rug-making, crocheting and knitting. There was never a shortage of afghans, sweaters and mittens at home. Patricia loved dancing and traveling, whether by land, sea or air. She traveled many times to New York to visit her sister, Carollee, where they would go dancing and make new friends. She and friend, Kay Hall, went to many dances and Beano outings. They also traveled several times to Las Vegas and the Caribbean. She was fond of animals, and she held a special place in her heart and home for her many cats throughout the years, often taking in pregnant strays and making sure the kittens found loving homes. Her kindness to animals wasn’t limited to cats, she also incubated a duck egg her children found in the lake. Tweetie was born and followed Mom around the house constantly. Several months later in the winter, a customer found a frozen duck in the street and Mom nursed it back to health. Speckles joined Tweetie and his family at the lake. She spent many happy times with her family at the family cottage on Gardner Lake, Marion. Patricia is survived by six children, Vernon E. Lord and spouse, Catherine, Cynthia A. Greenier and spouse, Daniel, Diane M. Lord, Linda L. Lord, Douglas M. Lord, and Donald S. Lord and spouse, Sarah. She is also survived by three siblings, Evelyn Marcinek and spouse, Stanley, Raymond Rier and spouse, Patricia, to whom she was very close, and Carollee Dinsmore; many nieces and nephews; grandchildren, Daniel Greenier and spouse, Genesis, and their child, Jayden, Davern Greenier and his children, Raeann, Desiree and Delaney, Patricia Greenier and her children, Drew and Drake, and their father, Andy Dennison, Crista Hatt and spouse, Troy, and their child, Saphira, Daine Greenier and Tayla Greenier, Van Lord and Chase Lord, Maximus Lord, Lucy Lord and Enzo Lord; and stepgrandchild, Luna Cary. Patricia is also survived by many friends including special niece and friend, Carlene Holmes, Virginia Suyama, Marie Loring; and her lifelong best friend, Clara Bowins. Patricia also held a special place in her heart for her at-home caregiver, Suzie Attaei; Dr. Sammis, nurses Debbie and Linda at Seaside Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Portland; Dr. Kazmi and physical therapist Joanie Morrissey at New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland; and Elisha in nursing and Lisa in physical therapy at Holbrook Health Center at Piper Shores, Scarborough, for their care and support during the last two years while trying to regain her health. Patricia was predeceased by her parents; siblings, James “Gene,” Paul, Marion, Francis “Babe” and Barney; one great-grandchild, Lucas Greenier; and her former husband, Vernon M. Lord. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, July 9, at Sacred Heart Parish, 14 Hamilton St., Lubec. Patricia would have appreciated any donations be made to your local animal shelter or American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com.