1923 – 2014

SKOWHEGAN — Pauline P. Hennings, 90, of Farmington, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 9, at Cedar Ridge Nursing Home, following a brief illness.

She born on Aug. 6, 1923, in Starks, one of 11 children to Ernest and Lura (Day) Palmer. She went to grade school in Starks and was a graduate of Dixfield High School. She continued her education at Mr. Bernard’s School of Beauty Culture in Lewiston and worked at Howatt’s Beauty Salon.

On May 3, 1947, she married Arlo Hennings in Wilton; he predeceased her on Nov. 11, 2009. She was a devoted wife and mother, and occasionally worked in area salons, especially during prom and wedding seasons.

She was a former member of the Farmington American Legion Auxiliary, the Old South Congregational Church Women’s Fellowship and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and was a former 4-H leader.

In her younger years, she enjoyed skiing. She volunteered in the fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the March of Dimes and for Operation Santa.

She was an avid reader and her tastes covered a wide number of genres. She also had a green thumb and raised African violets, roses and carefully tended her poinsettias. She enjoyed cooking and was a particularly good dessert cook. Her greatest passion, however, was sewing. She made quilts in her late 80s that are now treasured keepsakes.

Polly could be seen around the community buying her groceries and running her errands. Right up to the end, she was remarkably healthy and able.

Her survivors include three daughters, Sharon Provost and her husband, Gordon, of Skowhegan, Sheila Leavitt and her husband, Andrew, of New Vineyard and Lura Hennings-Manter and her husband, Reginald, of Mercer; a special friend, George Ruman, of Litchfield; one brother, Gervin Palmer and his wife, Donna, of Livermore; three grandsons, Grant Provost, G. Ashley Provost and Jason Leavitt; two stepgrandsons, Daniel Leavitt and Jonathan Leavitt; two step-great-grandsons, Bryson Bailey and Calvin Leavitt; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by nine siblings, Iva Martin, Lina Withee, Ernest Palmer, Leslie Palmer, Rodney Palmer, James Kenneth Palmer, Damon Palmer, Hubert Palmer and Lynette Trafton.

Tributes and condolences may be shared on her memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com. Following services, a video tribute may also be viewed on her memorial wall.