Mary Wakefield obituary

Mary Lee Wakefield
1947-2017

FAIRFIELD — Mary Lee Wakefield passed away peacefully at home, with her family, Sept. 25, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
She was born to Joseph and Frances (Blackie) Leclair on March 1, 1947.
She was married to Kempton Wakefield Sr. for 34 years; together they raised three children — Michael, Kempton Jr., and Rhonda Wakefield.

She attended Waterville schools and, in her earlier years, worked as a waitress at The Silent Woman and Howard Johnsons restaurants. She later worked at various mills such as the Wyandotte, Cascade and Carlton woolen mills and others. She finished her work career, checking the meal cards of students, for Colby College dining services, where she worked the last 15 years before retiring five years ago. She often said that her favorite part of her favorite job was interacting with the students on a daily basis.
Mary was a fiercely independent and tenacious woman with a strong work ethic, yet she was always loving and caring. She was named Elks Club’s Mother of the Year in 1987. She enjoyed various card games, once obtaining a 28 cribbage hand during a tournament, having won many over the years. She enjoyed going to casinos and playing bingo with friends. She also enjoyed going to lunch with her friends in the “out to lunch bunch” and had many special times with her niece and close friend Brenda Veilleux. Mary was known for her fiery, tell-as-she-saw-it attitude and her wry sense of humor that often had people chuckling several minutes or even hours later. After making the difficult decision of entering into hospice care, she set one major goal — to meet her great-granddaughter, Isabella Rose Lyshon, which she did shortly after her birth in July. Every time Mary did get to hold Isabella, she would look on the baby with love and adoration, finding peace and comfort in their embraces.
Mary is survived by sibling Joanne Leclair; sons, Michael Wakefield of Skowhegan, Kempton Wakefield Jr, and wife Debra of Fairfield; grandchildren, Marissa Charette and fiancé, Devon Lyshon, of Winslow, and Jacob and Matthew Wakefield of Fairfield; great-granddaughter, Isabella Rose Lyshon; she leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as an extended family she cared for deeply. Mary was predeceased by both parents, Joseph Leclair and Frances (Blackie) Leclair; siblings, Richard Leclair, Sandra Dow, Norman Leclair, and John Leclair; and her daughter, Rhonda J. Wakefield.
Special thanks to Maine General Hospice nursing and their support staff and Helping Hands support services for making this difficult time a little more bearable.
At Mary’s request, there will be no visitation hours or funeral service. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations in Mary’s memory to MaineGeneral HomeCare and Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 049012.
Arrangements under the direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976.