CASWELL – Marie M. O’Neal, 92, wife of the late Floyd B. O’Neal, passed away Wednesday evening, June 13, 2012, at a Van Buren nursing facility, after an extended illness. She was born Dec. 4, 1919, in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, the daughter of Herbert and Greta (McLain) McLaughlin.
Marie was employed as a telephone operator in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, until her marriage to Floyd Feb. 22, 1947, at which time she moved to Caswell and along with her husband operated a general store in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Marie had also been employed at the Limestone School Department cafeteria; A & P Processing Plant, Fort Fairfield; Birdseye Processing Plant, Caribou; and also worked for International Paper at the Musquacook Gate in the Northern Maine Woods. She had been a communicant of Parish of the Precious Blood, St. Louis Catholic Church, Limestone, for most of her life. Marie’s family was the most important thing in her life. Celebrations were centered around meals and Marie was a great cook. Whether it was chicken stew and rolls at Christmas or a baked ham dinner or turkey at Easter, Grammy’s meals filled everyone. During her years of marriage to Floyd, on Saturdays the smell of homemade beans and bread filled the house in Caswell and many rolls and loaves of bread went out to the neighbors. Even at the age of 92, with the help of her daughter, Diane, she made rolls and bread at Easter.
In addition to her parents, Marie was predeceased by her husband, Floyd, May 14, 2002; two brothers, William and Clayton McLaughlin; and three sisters, Joan Hart, Althea Gervais and Adelia McLaughlin. She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Valerie O’Neal of Limestone, Terry and Victoria O’Neal of Manchester and Brent and Beth O’Neal of Limestone; one daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Stephen Brooker of Limestone; one brother, Edwin McLaughlin of Grand Falls, New Brunswick; four sisters, Mary McLaughlin of Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Irene Ouellette of Hartford, Conn., Joyce Yeager of Albuquerque, N.M., and Evelyn Landry of Grand Falls, New Brunswick; nine grandchildren and spouses, Tina and David Leighton of Auburn, Craig and Grace O’Neal of Limestone, Adam O’Neal of Augusta, Melissa O’Neal of Manchester, Ryan O’Neal of Limestone and fiancee, Crystal Silva, Emily O’Neal of Caribou, Amanda Brooker of Limestone and fiance, Jim West, Matthew Brooker of Limestone and fiance, Thomas Hoyt, and Ashley Brooker of Bangor; nine great-grandchildren, Sam and Seth Leighton, both of Auburn, Nicholas O’Neal of Limestone, Connor O’Neal of Augusta, Max and Margaret McQuillin of Manchester, Cora Elizabeth Graves of Manchester, Gavin O’Neal and Tanner Brooker, both of Limestone; numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Sunday, June 17, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield, where a vigil service will be conducted 7:30 p.m. by the Rev. Raymond Morency. A Mass of Christian burial will celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, June 18, at Parish of the Precious Blood, St. Louis Catholic Church, 100 Main St., Limestone, with the Rev. Raymond Morency, celebrant. Interment will take place after the Mass at St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Limestone. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held after the interment service at the St. Louis Catholic Church reception area. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Mrs. O’Neal to Limestone-Caswell Historical Society, 38 Leighton Ave., Limestone, ME 04750. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church.