PREAQUE ISLE – Geraldine K. Oakes died peacefully on March 5, 2023 at her home in Leisure Village in Presque lsle. Geraldine was born on Sept. 2, 1923, in Mars Hill, the daughter of Theresa McSorley Keenan and Leo Keenan.

Geraldine lived a long life of 99-plus years. Seventy-two of those years were spent with her loving husband, Elmer Roger Oakes. She and Roger were inseparable and shared a lifelong love that radiated wherever they went.

Although Roger and Geraldine were not able to have children, they had 16 nieces and nephews who were greatly impacted in positive ways by Roger and Geraldine who were a constant presence in their lives. Geraldine and Roger were devout Catholics. Their love of the Lord Jesus was evident in the Christian manner in which they lived their daily lives. Geraldine belonged to the Parish of the Precious Blood in Presque Isle and was a member of the Daughters of Isabella.

Geraldine attended Mars Hill schools and graduated Valedictorian of her class from Aroostook Central Institute. She graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Maine at Orono where she was on the dean’s list every semester.

Geraldine had a wide and varied work career. Early on, she worked at the U.S. Post Office in Mars Hill under the supervision of her postmaster dad. She substitute taught in Presque Isle schools for several years. While living in Augusta, she worked at Farrell’s Clothing Store and for many years, worked at the State House for speaker, John Martin.

What Geraldine and Roger liked the most was traveling to visit family and friends. Geraldine loved to drive and looked for any reason to jump in the car and go! They enjoyed attending the Johnville Picnics and Keenan Family Reunions in New Brunswick, Canada. They especially enjoyed taking road trips to New Hampshire to visit Jack and Gilda and their boys Kevin and Greg.

Geraldine and Roger often dined out at their favorite restaurants. They frequently attended the performances of the Caribou Choral Society and always appreciated the talents displayed by everyone in the group. Both of them loved hearing Danny Ladner play the organ and sing for any occasion. Listening to their nephew, Sean and niece, Barbara sing always gave them great pleasure.

They enjoyed watching their great-nephews Kyle and Kasey Keenan and their great-niece, Emily Smith play sports and attended many of their high school games in Presque Isle and Caribou. Later they would travel the length of the state to watch Kyle coach the Noble High School girls varsity basketball team and to watch Kasey play basketball at the University of New England. They loved spending time with Andy and Dottie Keenan who also attended all the home basketball games of the University of New England during Kasey’s time there.

Besides her husband, Roger, Geraldine was predeceased by her parents; brother Jack and wife Gilda, brother Gerald and wife Marion, brother, Patrick and former wife, Elizabeth Schuh, brother, Andy and wife Dottie; nephews Daniel Keenan and Robert Keenan and niece, Bernadette Keenan-McCormick.

Geraldine is survived by nephews Frank Keenan of Presque Isle, Kevin Keenan of Meredith, N.H., Greg Keenan of Gilford, N.H., Gerard Schuh of Wenatchee, Wash., Brian Keenan and Tim Keenan, both of Biddeford, Sean Keenan of Alexandria, Va., John and Tony Laplante both of Augusta, nieces Dorothy Smith of Presque Isle, Ellen Hendrick and Theresa Milton, both of Spokane, Wash., Barbara Hendricks of Rockland, Leslie Guiley of Phoenix, Ariz., LeeAnn Villella and Renee Villella of Minnesota; sisters-in-law Theresa Laplante of Augusta, and Joann Villella of Phoenix, Ariz.

Geraldine had missed Roger deeply for the past three years. They are now happily together in heaven.

The family extends its gratitude to the staff of Leisure Village for the care and love extended to Geraldine and thank you to Theresa Keenan Fowler for sharing her time to help Geraldine. Thank you to the staff of Senior Domestics for the wonderful care they gave Geraldine.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m., Thursday, June 22 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mars Hill, with the Rev. Anthony Korir, SMA, celebrant. The family invites relatives and friends to a reception at the church fellowship hall, immediately following the service. Interment will follow at Pierce Cemetery, Mars Hill. Arrangements in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at: http://www.duncan-graves.com.

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