OXFORD – Bernice Paine Kane Merrill, 95, of Oxford, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at her home, with her family by her side.

She was born in East Oxford on Feb. 11, 1923, the daughter of Frank A. and Eva M. Cooper Paine. She was educated in East Oxford, at the Pratt School, where both parents and her siblings all attended. She graduated from Oxford High School in 1941, along with her sister, June. They walked four miles to and from the village, for many days of their four years.

Bee married her high school sweetheart, James Kane, in 1942 and they had five children. Jim died very suddenly on Aug. 26, 1971, two days after his 49th birthday, after 29 years together. In 1978, she met and married Clarence H. (Sonny) Merrill and continued to live in Oxford.

She leaves three daughters, Donna Staples and husband, Clarence (Spudie), Mary Ellen Louque and husband, Vincent, and Karol Smith and husband, James (Jim), a daughter-in-law, Carol Roma Kane, a stepdaughter, Linda Merrill Tenney, and a stepson, Steven Merrill, and wife, Carol; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; as well as three stepgrandchildren; and a step great-grandson.

She was predeceased by her husband, Clarence Merrill; her son, James K. Kane, her daughter, Kristen L. Kane; her grandson, Thomas Staples; her five siblings; and a stepdaughter, Virginia Merrill Rice.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norway. Family and friends may attend visitation on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 pm at Oxford Hills Funeral Services, 1037 Main St., Oxford.

Online condolences may be shared with her family atwww.oxfordhillsfuneralservice.com

In lieu of flowers

donations in her memory may be made to the

Community of the

Resurrection,

P.O. Box 284,

Casco, ME 04015

or a charity of your choice. 

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