LINCOLN – Janice R. Sprague, 91, went home to be with her Lord June 11, 2013, at Penobscot Valley Hospital, Lincoln, surrounded by her loving family. Janice was born Nov. 23, 1921, in West Bridgewater, Mass., daughter of the late Harold C. and Ruth H. Williams.
She was a dancing teacher in Boston from the time she was 14. She also was an assistant to the great magician ‘Herman the Great,’ her stepfather Herman Suss, of Boston while still in her teens. She married U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Rooney of Boston Oct. 11, 1941, but he died tragically in World War II. She married U.S. Marine Corporal Norman P. Sprague of Baileyville Aug. 19, 1944, and moved up to Baileyville in 1948. She taught dancing in Baileyville from 1957-1960. She was employed as a short-order cook at Ballandies Restaurant, Baileyville, then as a meat cutter at the IGA, then a stitcher at Hathaway & Ware Knitters, Calais, after that she trained as a certified nurse’s aide at the Calais hospital where she worked at that hospital as a certified nurse’s aide for three years, then worked for three years at Barnard’s Nursing Home, returned to work at Ware Knitters for two years, and then returned to work at Barnard’s Nursing Home where she continued working as a certified nurse’s aide until 1978, retiring when her husband Norman developed lung cancer and needed her care. Janice was a member of Woodland Baptist Church, Baileyville, and enjoyed being on a bowling league in Woodland for 17 years and with the St. Croix Bowling Club for three years, writing music, singing in the choir, playing the keyboard, summers at Meddybemps, crocheting afghans, making ‘Lollypop Dolls,’ collecting seashells on the beaches several winters in Florida which she made into ornaments that she sold in her gift shop in the 1980s. She taught piano to many children and her own grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She took up golf lessons at the age of 70. Janice was in exceptional health until the age of 83 when she had multiple blood clots that slowed her down physically with the loss of one of her dancing feet, but she still had a cheerful disposition right up until her death. She wrote her life story, ‘City Girl Goes Country,’ with the help of her family, published by her nephew, Stephen Sprague, in 2006 when she was 84, and continued to write novels and journals into her 90s.
She was predeceased by her first husband of two years, Tom Rooney; her second husband of 46 years, Norman P. Sprague, chief time keeper at St. Croix Paper Company and later Georgia Pacific; sister, Phyllis Sprague of Avon, Mass.; brother, Gordon Williams of Reading, Mass.; granddaughter, Hillary Jesson Sprague; great-grandson, Philip T.; and special friends, Phil Smith, William Hayes Pratt and Colin Morrison. Surviving is Janice’s daughter, Sherri Joyce and son-in-law, Stillman, of Rockland; daughter, Linda Wallace and son-in-law, Fred, of Crawford; son, John Sprague and daughter-in-law, Marie, of Hampden; daughter, Jeanie Fennell and son-in-law, John, of Burlington; many precious grandchildren, Freddie, Becky, Johnny, Jeff, Joey, Tanya, Tracey, Seth, Debee, Emily “Janice Jr.,” and their families; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais, where a celebration of life will be held noon Friday, with Pastor Linwood Trott and Pastor Bob Hinton officiating. Burial will be held at Woodland Cemetery, Baileyville. Donations in Janice’s memory may be made to Woodland Baptist Church or the church of your choice. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.maysfuneralhome.com.
Janice R. Sprague
