Juanita E. Ryan, 99, passed away at her home on November 26, 2023. She was born May 10th, 1924, in Brewer, the daughter of Herbert and Genevia (Fickett) Leland.
Juanita attended Dirigo School in Brewer and then moved to Bangor and attended Abraham Lincoln School. She graduated from Bangor High School in the Class of 1941 where she was on the National Honor Society. Juanita worked in Presque Isle at the Airbase for the government and in Trenton, New Jersey in an airplane factory during World War II. After that, Juanita worked at Viners Shoe Factory for ten years. She then went to work at Bangor Mental Health Institute for twenty-four years, where she got her LPN License. After her retirement from there she went to work part time for Phillips-Strickland for nineteen years, retiring again at the age of 80.
Juanita had five daughters and one son, Melanie Steward, Barbara Modery, Linda Averill, Cynthi Spearing, Karen Cole and Timothy Ryan. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery, painting, drawing, and visiting with family and friends. She loved to travel going to Alaska twice, Hawaii twice, to Germany, and many places in the United States and Canada. She also liked to go on cruises and went on five of them to the Bahamas.
In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her daughter Karen Cole; two brothers Gordon Leland and Roland Leland; and her sister Herberta Barker. Juanita is survived by nine grandchildren, Jay, Brice, and Shawn Hughes, Nathanial, Mathew and Lucas Spearing and Caroline and Faith Cole and Eric Modery; seven great grandchildren, Megan, Katie, and Logan Hughes, Breanna Philbrick-Mahon, Jack Hughes and Sage Hughes, Oscar Spearing and Hazel Spearing; two great-great grandchildren Roisin Mahon and Sila Kuerig.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, December 1, 1023, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor, following the service. Gifts in Juanita’s memory may be made to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mt. Hope Avenue, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
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Juanita attended Dirigo School in Brewer and then moved to Bangor and attended Abraham Lincoln School. She graduated from Bangor High School in the Class of 1941 where she was on the National Honor Society. Juanita worked in Presque Isle at the Airbase for the government and in Trenton, New Jersey in an airplane factory during World War II. After that, Juanita worked at Viners Shoe Factory for ten years. She then went to work at Bangor Mental Health Institute for twenty-four years, where she got her LPN License. After her retirement from there she went to work part time for Phillips-Strickland for nineteen years, retiring again at the age of 80.
Juanita had five daughters and one son, Melanie Steward, Barbara Modery, Linda Averill, Cynthi Spearing, Karen Cole and Timothy Ryan. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery, painting, drawing, and visiting with family and friends. She loved to travel going to Alaska twice, Hawaii twice, to Germany, and many places in the United States and Canada. She also liked to go on cruises and went on five of them to the Bahamas.
In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her daughter Karen Cole; two brothers Gordon Leland and Roland Leland; and her sister Herberta Barker. Juanita is survived by nine grandchildren, Jay, Brice, and Shawn Hughes, Nathanial, Mathew and Lucas Spearing and Caroline and Faith Cole and Eric Modery; seven great grandchildren, Megan, Katie, and Logan Hughes, Breanna Philbrick-Mahon, Jack Hughes and Sage Hughes, Oscar Spearing and Hazel Spearing; two great-great grandchildren Roisin Mahon and Sila Kuerig.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, December 1, 1023, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor, following the service. Gifts in Juanita’s memory may be made to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mt. Hope Avenue, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
Service Schedule
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Funeral Service
Brookings-Smith, Bangor
Reception
Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith
Following the service
Interment
Maple Grove Cemetery - Bangor
Interment will be private for the family
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