ASHLAND, Maine & DOWLING PARK, Forida – Luona Mae “Lou” Sylvester Rand, 92, died peacefully on September 23, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Center in the Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, Florida. She was born May 12, 1924, in Ashland, Maine, to Clinton and Catherine Skinner Sylvester. She was the last surviving member of a family of nine siblings, a total of five brothers and four sisters.
Lou was the devoted and loving wife of Wesley Bradford Rand for over 68 years, prior to his passing also at the Advent Christian Village in April 2015.
Lou lived the majority of her life in Ashland, Maine, graduating as salutatorian in her 1941 high school class at Ashland High School and living with her husband until 2011 in their home there. She was a member of The Ashland Advent Christian Church for many years, faithfully serving for several decades in multiple capacities such as church clerk and editor of the Beacon church newsletter. She worked on the family farm, doing all that was necessary to assist in the many responsibilities of planting and harvesting potatoes, including driving trucks, while providing the nurturing home that cared for her family members and friends, and raised her children. Many will also remember her from her work as a cafeteria worker at Ashland Community Schools for many years.
Lou was blessed by her Lord to have a heart that was not only strong physically, but more importantly, continually giving and blessing others. Bink and Lou, as she and her husband were affectionately called, often sang together in Church and at friends’ funerals, with her favorite hymn “In the Garden” many times being the selection. There were no unwelcome guests in Lou’s home as she took great joy in caretaking for others, watching them enjoy the many meals she prepared, and in sharing in the many social interactions with family and friends. Aunt Lou was one of her favorite titles, not only from her nieces and nephews, but also from others who appreciated the sense of immediate acceptance into her family.
Lou leaves behind four children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, Phyllis Rand of Pensacola, Florida, Linda and Richard Russell of Charlotte, North Carolina and their sons, Jason and Seth and their families, Kay Rand and Cornell Knight of Bar Harbor and their daughters, Jessie and Jillian and their families, and Douglas and Sheri Rand of Matthews, North Carolina and their daughters, Royale, Jennifer, Reagan and Taylor.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, her infant son, Lee Bradford; and her eight brothers and sisters.
Lou was a godly woman who showed her love for her Lord by her love for others. She was a devoted wife, mother, grand-mother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her servant’s heart brought her great joy, a joy that will continue for her as she has now entered into the loving care of her Lord and Saviour.
A Memorial Service will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Advent Christian Church, Exchange St., Ashland, with Pastor Bill Harris officiating. Donations in Lou’s name can be made to the Ashland Advent Christian Church, Exchange Street, Ashland, Maine 04732 or to the Advent Christian Village, 10680 Dowling Park Drive, Live Oak, Florida 32060 or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are a service of Lajoie Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St./PO Box 39, Ashland, ME 04732. To share condolences online, please visit www.LajoieFuneralHome.com
