Gwendolyn J. ‘Pinkie’ Ferland

1920-2009

MEXICO – Gwendolyn J. “Pinkie” Ferland, 89, died Saturday, Dec. 19.

She was born March 16, 1920, in the Ridlonville neighborhood of Mexico, the first of four children raised by Lacy W. and Mabelle D. Judkins.

She was a lifelong resident of the community and for the last 30 years lived in the house where she was born and raised. She was nicknamed “Pinkie” at birth by her grandfather because of her healthy glow. The name stuck as her primary identity and became apt, as her personable nature and warmth brightened the lives of her family and friends.

Pinkie attended local schools and graduated from Mexico High School in 1937, with honors. She married Arthur J. Ferland in 1938, and over the next 61 years together their family grew to four children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren

Pinkie worked for the W.T. Grant department store in Rumford and with her husband, operated a store and summer cottage business at Roxbury Pond and an apartment building in Mexico that also served as their family residence. She eventually worked nearly 20 years for Maine School Administrative District 43, including a long stint as the executive secretary to the principal at the former Mexico Junior High.

In addition to her family and work responsibilities, Pinkie led a satisfying civic life. She was a member of the Mexico Historical Society and a decades-long member of the Mexico Mother’s Club. She was active in the former St. Athanasius Church (Rumford) and St. Theresa’s Church (Mexico) Catholic parishes and was a past state Regent of the Daughters of Isabella. Pinkie survived breast cancer in her mid 40s and provided counsel to other cancer-stricken patients.

During her retirement years, Pinkie enjoyed periodic trips to California and Florida, voraciously read a series of novels and maintained a standing, weekly lunch date with her closest friends, most of whom she had known since high school. With the Historical Society she assisted in securing exhibit materials related to the Ferland’s Dairy milk bottling and delivery business and contributed information to a book that documented Ridlonville’s role in the overall history of Mexico

She enthusiastically followed the developing lives of the younger generations of her immediate and extended family, and regularly attended their athletic contests, theatrical debuts and music concerts. Family members often coalesced around cookouts at Pinkie’s backyard patio or visited her while she relaxed at her daughter’s cottage at Worthley Pond in Peru.

She is survived by her daughter, Ann Rouleau and her husband, Robert, of Rumford; son Arthur W. and his wife, Janet, of Canton Point, son John and his wife, Christina, of Cumberland and son Peter and his wife, Eileen, of Melbourne, Fla. She also leaves her brother Albert and his partner, Sharon Bright, of Jacksonville, Fla; and her sister, Beatrice Bredes and her husband, Roger, of Hobe Sound, Fla.

Pinkie was predeceased by her husband in 1999; and her brother Chester. 

Nana was greatly loved by her nine grandchildren and their spouses/companions, Jeffrey Smith and Tammy Houghton of Rumford, Terrence “Bub” Smith and Laurie Myles of Rumford, Wayne Smith and Meg Martin of Dixfield, Kelly and Michael Newton of Buckfield, Arthur W. “Artie” and Elaine Ferland of Canton, Gregory Ferland of Cumberland and Lyndsay, Connor and Ryan Ferland, all of Melbourne, Fla. Her great-grandchildren will miss Great Nana immensely, Megan and Kate Smith of Hanover, Tyler and Tristam Newton of Buckfield and Alex and Lauren Ferland of Canton.

The Ferland family extends a grateful “thank-you” to the staffs of Central Maine Medical Center, Rumford Community Hospital and the Rumford Community Home for the quality of care they provided to Pinkie over the last several months.