O’Roak joins siblings in ‘80s club

    Joan O’Roak was guest-of-honor at her 80th birthday party at the Washburn Memorial United Church of Christ in Sherman, on Nov. 16. She was surprised as 21 family members made an unexpected entrance during the church service, where choir members, Matthew Lane, Fran Sleeper, Jenna Guiggey, Suzanne Wade, and Peter and Allison Roy, accompanied by Bonny Cox, were singing a few of her favorite hymns, especially for the occasion.
Contributed photo
CELEBRATING 80 — Family and friends of Joan O’Roak gathered for a daylong celebration in honor of her 80th birthday. Shown on left, is O’Roak’s life-long friend, Colleen Welch Schmidt from Patten.
    After the service over 100 guests flooded the vestry that had been transformed into Bine’s Lunch, a favorite hangout of Mrs. O’Roak’s as a teenager. Throughout the day, entertainment was at hand, starting with a prayer delivered by her great-granddaughter Olivia Guiggey of Carmel, then onto the crowd who crooned to “Happy Birthday”, while accompanied by great-granddaughter, Emelia O’Roak of Bangor, on the piano. Maine House Representative, Henry Joy presented her with a certificate of her lifetime achievements on behalf of the Legislature and the people of the state of Maine.
    Grandchildren, Adam Guiggey, Erin Tutt and Jessica Cullen presented a skit entitled “When I Was Grammie’s Age”. The guests were also delighted with an afternoon of fellowship and a trivia game that included 20 questions about the life of the birthday girl. The day was ended with gift opening and a cake made by Penny Daggett.
    Attending guests were; her sister, Barbara Harris, her children Elizabeth O’Roak, Rebecca and Thomas Guiggey, Paul and Debra O’Roak, Jymme O’Roak, Holly and Kenneth McNally, Wade and Debra O’Roak, and Wendy and Rodney Anderson.
    Grandchildren Shawn O’Roak and Sherry Lee, Patrick and Nicole O’Roak, Adam and Amy Guiggey, Kimberly and Allan Smallwood, Erin and Brad Tutt, Summer and Chris Lobley, Josh and Jesse Lynn McNally, Jessica and Benjamin Cullen, Kevin O’Roak and Jordan Anderson.
    Great-grandchildren Michael O’Roak, Emelia and Myrah O’Roak, Olivia and Branden Guiggey, Charlotte Smallwood, Sara, Benjamin and Cailyn Tutt, Dylan and Andrew Lobley, Shannon, Matilynn, and Evie McNally, Lily, Maizy, and Avrey Cullen and Riley and Owen Ryan.
    Also in attendance, Marilyn Somers, Gaylene Leavitt, Mel Gould, Suzanne Wade, Barbara and Michael Proulx, Pastor Dan Proulx, Fran Sleeper, Allison and Peter Roy, Marty Arbo, Martha Landry, Colleen Schmidt, Rachel McCarthy, Juanita Lane, Danny and Carol Curtis, Jasmine Nightingale, Aliyah Curtis,Vicki Anderson, Dana and Jean Rioux, Georgia McNally, Cindy and Lindsey Drew, Lucy McNally, Bonita Staples, Bonny Cox, Henry and Mary Joy, Charlene McAvoy, Beth Ricker, Lorine Caldwell, Dickie Sides, Larry Smith, Virginia Clement, Nadine O’Roak, Dot McLellan, Lorainne Guiggey, Kay McNally, Kim McNally, Molly Cunningham, Torrey Stevens, Donny and Jane McNally, Barbara Ireland, Doris DeRespino, Matthew Lane, Jim and Ina Pratt, Doreen Leach and Rose Bragdon
    Sending gifts or well wishes were, grandchildren Liza and T.J. Ryan, Billie-Jo and David Pike, Drew Jamison and Audrey, Lee Pike, brother and sister-in-law Carl and Estelle Ingraham, Aunt Delia Hamilton and son Clayton O’Roak.
    Also, Laurel Boynton, Fran Gorman, John and Doris Murphy, Bob and Patsy Dyer, Lorna Harris, Vera Mitchell, Kay Baum, Helen Overmyer, Isabelle McAvoy, Larry and Marlene Whipkey, Gin White, Jim and Norma Shafer, Dr. William and Freddy Daniels, Brent and Candy Kelley, Joe and Jarice Kelley, Brothers and Sisters of Molunkus Valley Chapter OES#95, Donna Grass, Eve Rice, Ronnie Cox, Mike Wade, Merita Sides, Helen Duguay, Crystal Mitchell, Arnie Bragdon, and Gary and Beverly Moody.
    Joan has now joined her three siblings in the “80’s club”.