Obituary of Denise L. Fernald

BREWER - Denise L. Fernald, 89, wife of Richard H. Fernald, Sr., died Dec. 21, 2016 at her home in Brewer after a lengthy illness. She was born Jan. 8, 1927 in Old Town, the daughter of William A. and Alice C. (Lavoie) Deveau. Denise and Richard were married for 59 years and were longtime residents of Brewer. She worked at the University of Maine early on before starting a family and was a devoted wife and homemaker. She was a communicant of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Brewer and was active in the church. She and Richard served as Eucharistic ministers and sang in the church choir. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Later in her life Denise worked at the Bangor YMCA and also performed volunteer work at the Brewer Rehabilitation Center. She was an avid reader all her life and was a regular at the Brewer Public Library. Denise loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping track of their growth and progress. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. Surviving in addition to her husband of Brewer are four children, Richard Fernald, Jr. of Bedford, MA, Alisa Tucker and her husband, Mark of Orono, Teresa Flanagan and her husband, Christopher of Murfreesboro, TN and Michele Francis and her husband, Calvin of Old Town; four grandchildren, Justin Francis and his girlfriend Brittney Fields of Old Town and Tyler Francis of Old Town, Paige and Haley Flanagan of Murfreesboro, TN; two great grandchildren, Derek "DJ" Francis and Arianna Denise Francis; one sister, Joyce Lane of Summerville, SC; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Sybil Rand and by a brother, William Deveau. Denise's family gratefully thanks the staff of Eastern Maine Home Care and Hospice, especially Chaplain Dave, Leyna, Connie and Melissa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 531 No. Main St., Brewer. Burial will be in the spring at Oak Hill Cemetery, Winterport. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Eastern Maine, care of Eastern Health Care Foundation, PO Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 69 State St., Brewer. Messages and memories may be shared with Denise's family at kileyandfoley.com.