1936 – 2015

AUBURN — Janice M. Holmes, 79, passed away on Friday, Jan. 1, at the Hospice House in Auburn surrounded by her loving family.

Janice was born in Lewiston on Sept. 18, 1936, the daughter of Clyde and Maude H. Safford Pulsifer. She was the middle sibling of 13 brothers and sisters who grew up in Turner. As a child, Janice was a free spirit, she was eager to learn about all things and her quest for knowledge continued throughout her life. She especially enjoyed her trips to the library on Saturdays after she finished her chores. At Christmastime, it was a special holiday treat to go into the city; a Whitteman coloring book and crayons was waiting for all at FW Woolworths.

Jan loved nature and being outside in the woods. She enjoyed sharing her extensive knowledge of horticulture, gardening and preserving organic food with family and friends. When her daughters were young, she served as a devoted mother, homemaker, seamstress, Girl Scout leader and mentor. Later in life she worked as a team with her husband, James, for Almor Corporation, the family business.

Jan spent her free time writing stories, poetry and composing music, inspired by childhood memories and her home near the ocean in Duxbury, Mass. Her compassion for others and their needs was evident in her contributions to historical preservation and numerous charities. We will miss her greatly.

She was married to her husband of 58 years, James Brian Holmes, who survives her; she was the mother of two daughters, Wendy E. Holmes and Lynda J. Peterson; a son-in-law, Donald (Roo) Peterson; her grandchildren, Heather Smith, Adam Peterson, Alyssa McGonagle and Robert Peterson; great-grandchildren, Brendan Smith, Kara Peterson, Leah Peterson, Connor Smith, Jessie Peterson, Tabitha Peterson, Faith McGonagle, James McGonagle and Liberty Rose McGonagle; her siblings and their spouses, Edith and John Little of Leeds, Bob and Beth Pulsifer of Livermore, Joanne and Donald Ricker of Turner, James and Mary Pulsifer of Peru, Howard and Pat Pulsifer of Chicago, Ill., Marilyn Bates of Canton, Mo., and Barry and Linda Pulsifer of Hallowell; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; and her five brothers, Dick Pulsifer, Stephen Pulsifer, David Pulsifer, Ted Pulsifer and his wife, Glenice, and Gerald Pulsifer.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.finleyfuneralhome.com.