Mary P. Sawyer
1918 – 2010
LEWISTON — Mary Pagurko Sawyer, 91, of 101 Frost Hill Ave., Lisbon Falls, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Montello Manor.
She was born Dec. 24, 1918, in Pejepscot, the daughter of John Joseph Pagurko and Anna Veronica Szemanjik Pagurko. She received her education at Pejepscot and Brunswick schools, graduating from Brunswick High School in 1936. During her junior year, she was elected as a charter member of the Nathaniel Hawthorne Chapter of the National Honor Society.
In 1939, she was married to Ralph A. Sawyer, who passed away on Sept. 9, 1990. She was a member of St. Cyril and St. Methodius Church until its closing and has most recently been a member of Holy Trinity Church.
She was a devoted wife and homemaker and was a loving mother to her four sons. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a great support and advocate for her family. In fact, she never felt that she could do enough for her family and was the glue that held it together.
One of her fondest memories as a child was receiving a piano from her parents. By her eighth grade year, she was accomplished enough to fill in for the organist at St. Anne’s Mission in Pejepscot.
Her interests were in baking, canning and taking care of her grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening and was well-known for her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. She was very interested in history and prided herself in being the family historian.
She is survived by her four sons, John P. Sawyer of Stielacoom, Wash., Ralph J. Sawyer and his wife, Lorraine, of Poland, Stan J. Sawyer and his wife, Jane, of Harpswell and Frank A. Sawyer and his wife, Karen, of Lewiston; a brother, Steve Pagurko of Lewiston; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Ralph and her parents, she was also predeceased by two sisters, Anna Miceli and Margaret Durrick; and by four brothers, John, Michael, Joseph and Frank Pagurko.