Jacqueline and Rejean

Pare

LEWISTON – A New Year’s surprise 25th wedding anniversary gala was held for Rejean and Jacqueline Pare on the evening of Jan. 1 at C&J Hall in Lewiston. Mr. Pare and the former Jackie Picard were married on May 31, 1980, in a small private ceremony.

The dinner and dance was hosted by the couple’s children, Jennifer and Alex Pare of Lewiston and Nathan and Kris, and granddaughter, Maddie Rose, of Kansas City, Mo., who were home for the holidays.

Their younger son, Alex, performed a “decoy” toast prior to the surprise event. Their daughter, Jennifer, did the event planning and decorations. Their eldest son, Nathan, presented the toast, which ended with the 90 guests joining in the song “Auld Lang Syne.”

Photos of friends and family were displayed on the tables. Guests were asked to write and share aloud memories with the couple. Honored guests were wedding attendants Joanne Langlois and Sue Rouleau, sisters of Mrs. Pare and Muriel Picard, her mother.

Mrs. Pare is a 1973 graduate of Lewiston High School and a 1979 graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington. She also received a master’s degree in 1989 from the University of Southern Maine. She has been employed by the Lewiston School System for over 20 years as a special education teacher, coordinator and currently the interim assistant director of special education.

Mr. Pare graduated from Lewiston High School in 1970 and attended the University of Southern Maine. He was employed for several years at Tri-County Mental Health and has been self-employed as a family/child counselor for home-based interventions.

The couple met in 1972 while working together at Tri-County Mental Health. They currently reside in Lewiston and are planning a belated honeymoon to Jamaica this summer.