Obituary of Patricia A. Rier

Patricia A. Rier, 78, went quietly at home during the early morning hours of July 5, 2010 to be with the Lord. Our mother will be dearly missed. She was born in Lubec, Maine on November 29, 1931, daughter of the late Frank and Elizabeth (Keegan) Rier. Patricia graduated from Lubec High School in 1950 and received an associate’s business degree from Husson College in 1981. As a teenager, Patricia worked in a local sardine factory. She loved spending her spare time at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. After graduating from high school she lived with her older sister, Marion, in Charlestown, MA and attended Burdett College in Boston, MA, while working as a secretary at the Shawmut Bank. After her marriage to Vernon M. Lord on November 2, 1951, his job in the insurance industry had them living in such places as Concord, New Hampshire, Avon, Connecticut, Portland, Ellsworth and Manset, Maine before settling down in Machias. They also spent time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the mid-1950’s for Vernon’s job. They lived in the same hotel as the local professional baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies, and Patricia and her children, Gene and Cyndy, befriended some of the baseball players with families since Gene would walk up to the families while there. While raising her six children, Patricia worked alongside her former husband for more than twenty years at the Vernon M. Lord Insurance Agency. A few years after her divorce, she started her own successful insurance agency, Patricia A. Rier Insurance Agency. In her younger years, Patricia was known by her children’s friends to make the best whoopie pies in the neighborhood. Some of these children became her customers and would sit and reminisce about those whoopie pies. She was a talented oil painter. She also enjoyed latch hook rug-making, crocheting and knitting. There was never a shortage of afghans, sweaters and mittens at home. Patricia loved dancing and traveling, whether by land, sea or air. She traveled many times to New York to visit her sister, Carollee, where they would go dancing and make new friends. She and friend, Kay Hall, went to many dances and beano outings. They also traveled several times to Las Vegas and the Caribbean. She was fond of animals, and she held a special place in her heart and home for her many cats throughout the years. Often taking in pregnant strays and making sure the kittens found loving homes. Her kindness to animals wasn’t limited to cats, she also incubated a duck egg her children found in the lake. ‘Tweetie” was born and followed Mom around the house constantly. Several months later in the winter, a customer found a frozen duck in the street and Mom nursed it back to health. “Speckles” joined Tweetie and his family at the lake. She spent many happy times with her family at the family cottage on Gardner Lake in Marion, Maine. Patricia is survived by six children, Vernon E. Lord and spouse Catherine, Cynthia A. Greenier and spouse Daniel, Diane M. Lord, Linda L. Lord, Douglas M. Lord and Donald S. Lord and spouse Sarah. She is also survived by three siblings, Evelyn Marcinek and spouse Stanley, Raymond Rier and spouse Patricia to whom she was very close, Carollee Dinsmore and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are grandchildren Daniel Greenier and spouse Genesis, their child Jayden; Davern Greenier and his children Raeann, Desiree, and Delaney; Patricia Greenier and her children Drew and Drake and their father Andy Dennison; Crista Hatt and spouse Troy and their child Saphira; Daine Greenier and Tayla Greenier; Van Lord and Chase Lord; Maximus Lord, Lucy Lord, Enzo Lord and step-grandchild Luna Cary. Patricia is also survived by many friends as well as special niece and friend Carlene Holmes, Virginia Suyama, Marie Loring, her lifelong best friend Clara Bowins. Patricia also held a special place in her heart for her at-home caregiver, Suzie Attaei, Dr. Sammis, for Nurses Debbie and Linda at Seaside Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Portland, Dr. Kazmi and physical therapist Joanie Morrissey at New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland, Maine, and Elisha in nursing and Lisa in physical therapy at Holbrook Health Center at Piper Shores in Scarborough for their care and support over the last two years while trying to regain her health. Patricia was predeceased by her parents; siblings James “Gene“, Paul, Marion, Francis “Babe“ and Barney; one great-grandchild Lucas Greenier; and her former husband, Vernon M. Lord. Funeral Services will be held on Friday July 9, 2010 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Parish 14 Hamilton St. Lubec, Maine. Patricia would have appreciated any donations be made to your local animal shelter or ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Online condolences may be made to the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com