Janice Ruth Sprague

Lincoln- Janice R. Sprague, 91, went home to be with her Lord June 11th 2013 at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln surrounded by her loving family. Janice was born in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Nov. 23, 1921, daughter of the late Harold C. and Ruth H. Williams.

She was a dancing teacher in Boston from the time she was fourteen. She also was an assistant to the great magician ‘Herman the Great’ (her stepfather Herman Suss) of Boston while still in her teens. She married U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Rooney on Oct. 11, 1941 of Boston but he died tragically in WW II. She married U.S. Marine Corporal Norman P. Sprague of Baileyville, Maine on August 19, 1944 and moved up to Baileyville, Maine in 1948. She taught dancing in Baileyville from 1957-1960. She was employed as a short-order cook at Ballandies Restaurant (Baileyville), then as a meat cutter at the IGA, then a stitcher at Hathaway & Ware Knitters in Calais, after that she trained as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant at the Calais Hospital where she worked at that hospital as a CNA for 3 years, then worked for 3 years at Barnard’s Nursing Home, returned to work at Ware Knitters for 2 years, and then returned to work at Barnard’s Nursing Home where she continued working as a CNA until 1978, retiring when her husband Norman developed lung cancer and needed her care.

Janice was a member of Woodland Baptist Church in Baileyville and enjoyed being on a bowling league in Woodland for 17 years and with the St. Croix Bowling Club 3 year, writing music, singing in the choir, playing the keyboard, summers at Meddybemps, crocheting afghans, making ‘Lollypop Dolls’, collecting seashells on the beaches several winters in Florida which she made into ornaments that she sold in her gift shop in the 1980s. She taught piano to many children and her own grandchildren and great grandchildren. She took up golf lessons at the age of 70.

Janice was in exceptional health until the age of 83 when she had multiple blood clots that slowed her down physically with the loss of one of her dancing feet, but she still had a cheerful disposition right up until her death. She wrote her life story, City Girl Goes Country, with the help of her family, published by her nephew Stephen Sprague in 2006 when she was 84, and continued to write novels and journals into her 90s.

She was predeceased by her 1st husband of two years, Tom Rooney, her 2nd husband of 46 years, Norman P. Sprague (chief Time Keeper at St. Croix Paper Company & later Georgia Pacific), her sister Phyllis Sprague of Avon, Mass, her brother Gordon Williams of Reading,Mass, granddaughter Hillary Jesson Sprague, great grandson Philip T., and special friends Phil Smith, William Hayes Pratt, and Colin Morrison. .
Surviving are Janice’s daughter Sherri Joyce and son-in-law Stillman of Rockland, daughter Linda Wallace and son-in-law Fred of Crawford, son John Sprague and daughter-in-law Marie of Hampden, and daughter Jeanie Fennell and son-in-law John of Burlington; many precious grandchildren, Freddie, Becky, Johnny, Jeff, Joey, Tanya, Tracey, Seth, Debee, Emily (aka “Janice Jr.”), and their families; many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Friends may call at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, 2013, where a celebration of life will be held 12 noon Friday with Pastor Linwood Trott and Pastor Bob Hinton officiating. Burial will be held at Woodland Cemetery in Baileyville. Donations in Janice’s memory may be made to Woodland Baptist Church or the church of your choice.