Mrs. Poliquin was born on March 20, 1919, in Brunswick, Maine, to Rudolph Henri and Eva C. de Lorimier (Noel). She was educated in the Brunswick school system as well as with the Soeurs De La Presentation in Canada, a graduate of Brunswick High School class of 1937 and member of the Honor Society. She later went on to employment with the Varney Mills in the Actuary Department, the head bookkeeper for Poliquin Jewelers and Watchmaker in Brunswick, Maine.
Fernande married on July 4, 1942, to Origene C. Poliquin (Gene) of Lewiston, Maine. They moved to Jersey City, NJ, where Mrs. Poliquin was employed by the Colgate Palmolive Company in the accounting and logistics department returning to Maine in 1946.
Mrs. Poliquin, fondly referred to as “The Hat Lady,” was a member of St John the Baptist Roman Catholic community. She was considered by many to be the “unofficial historian” of the parish community as well as the Franco-American community. She was involved in an educational French program developed by the Ursuline Sisters of St. John’s School and the Hyde School in Bath, Maine. Fernande was called upon occasionally to review and translate documents into Parisian French or Canadian French for local businesses, professors at both Bates and Bowdoin Colleges and government officials.
She was communicant of St. John the Baptist and was involved with many of her church’s programs such as the Third Order of Mary serving as its president, secretary and treasurer, she served as one of the first Eucharistic Ministers of the parish, was involved in the RCIA, Faith Sharing. Also a bible studies programs earning college credits towards a theology degree.
After her move to Green Valley/ Sahuarita, AZ, Fern was active in the Sahuarita Senior Programs as well. Meeting new people from different parts of the country and Canada was always pleasant, having lunch daily, playing cards, and craft programs. She traveled on day trips to different types of museums, gardens, olive tree farms with their own production facility, and the historic reenactments at Tombstone and Old Tucson. Fern also acted as the programs volunteer bookkeeper. A memorial Mass was held at Our Lady of the Valley in Green Valley, AZ, on Feb. 27, 2014.
Fernande enjoyed her many travels to Canada, reconnecting with her family there and visiting Canada’s shrines and her family in Maine and her home.
Mrs. Poliquin enjoyed nearly 62 years of marriage with her beloved Genie who precedes her in death as well as her brother Rudolph N. de Lorimier of Brunswick. She is survived by her daughter Therese Anne and son-inlaw Brian Rigolizzo, along with cousins in the U.S. and Canada, several godchildren, nieces, nephews.
A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Church on Saturday, June 28, 2014, at 10 a.m., interment at St. John’s Cemetery will follow directly after the service.
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