ORONO and BANGOR – Jeanne Harriet (Soule) Rich died in her 93rd year, Saturday, June 4, 2011, at Orono Commons, where she had lived for the past year and a half. She was born July 30, 1918, in Charleston, daughter of Hollis A. Soule and E. Marguerite (Farmer) Soule.
Jean attended Charleston schools and graduated from Higgins Classical Institute, salutatorian of her class of 1937. She married Nathan H. Rich Jr.
Nov. 4, 1937. Jean was an inquisitive and well-read woman who lived most of her adult life in the Stillwater-Orono area. Nathan’s work also took the family to Connecticut, New Hampshire and Michigan. She was employed as a seed analyst at the University of Maine for 25 years, where she was a member of the Classified Employees Advisory Council. She was a charter member of the Thursday Club at the University of Maine, a 50-year member of Orono Woman’s Club, a member of Orono Methodist Church and several groups affiliated with the church. An avid reader, she belonged to various book clubs throughout the years. Her interests were many and her knowledge extensive. The family cottage, Jephnewa, on Sebec Lake, Bowerbank, was her favorite place to be. Having lost her husband at an early age, in 1958, she was very supportive of her three children as they obtained baccalaureate and graduate degrees.
She is survived by her son, Dr. Nathan H. Rich III and wife, Elizabeth (Sulides), of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland; a daughter, Rosemary and husband, Richard C. Leonard, of Veazie; a son, Stuart Rich and partner, Peter Murray, of Owl’s Head; grandchildren, Alan Rich and his wife, Marlyn Brownrigg, of Pointe Claire, Quebec, Sara Rich Dorman and her husband, Bill, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Cheryl Leonard of Stillwater, Rhonda Leonard Ouellette and her husband, Kenneth, of Kennebunk, Joann Leonard of Portland and Kathryn Leonard Morrill and her husband, Mark, of Gorham; 12 great-grandchildren, Philip and Thomas Rich, Katharine and Philip Abram Dorman, Alex and Nicholas Ouellette, Jocelyn, Nate and Drew St. Jean and Hailey, Jillian and Ryan Morrill; her brother, Walter Soule and his wife, Sylvia (Sulides), of North Andover, Mass.; her sisters-in-law, Alberta (Mitchell) Rich of Charleston, Marilyn (Baker) Rich of Camillus, N.Y., and Patricia (McMahon) Soule of York; many nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by her husband; her parents; and two siblings, Phyllis Pratt Foss and H. Neil Soule. The family thanks the staff of Orono Commons and New Hope Hospice for their kind and sensitive care.
Relatives and friends may call 4-6 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Brookings-Smith, Orono Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. A service of remembrance will be held 2 p.m. Friday, June 24, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Dr. Randall C. Chretien, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Bangor, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the service. Gifts in Jean’s memory may be made to the Nathan H. Rich Jr. and Jean S. Rich Scholarship Fund, care of University of Maine Foundation, 2 Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469 or Sebec Lake Association, P.O. Box 303, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.