PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — St. Mary’s Cemetery on Chapman Street recently received new fencing thanks to contributions from a former Presque Isle resident.
Marjorie Trombley DeLoach, who now lives in Connecticut, donated a “substantial” amount of funds to the Parish of the Precious Blood committee to install a new wrought-iron fence in front of the Chapman Street cemetery, along with chain-link fencing in the back.
Herm Turcotte, supervisor of cemetery operations for the Caribou/Presque Isle area parish, noted that without DeLoach’s generosity, fundraising for the new fences would have taken many years.
St. Mary’s cemetery on Chapman Street in Presque Isle has received new wrought-iron fencing thanks to a donation from former Presque Isle resident Marjorie Trombley DeLoach. (Courtesy of Michael Tardif)
DeLoach said she wanted to donate the funds to honor her family as well as the local families who no longer have folks to care for and visit their graves. Many of her relatives, including her son, grandson, parents and siblings, are buried at the Chapman Street cemetery.
“I want them to know they are remembered,” said DeLoach, who celebrated her 95th birthday in May.
While raising her two children as a single mother in Presque Isle, DeLoach owned and operated the Powder Puff hair salon and was actively involved in St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The committee held a celebration at the Chapman Street cemetery on Aug. 19 to recognize DeLoach’s contributions and marvel at how the new fences enhance the beauty of the burial grounds.
“We want to thank Marjorie and our parish for helping us take care of our fertile grounds,” Turcotte said.
The Parish of the Precious Blood cemetery committee oversees maintenance for 16 Catholic cemeteries throughout Aroostook County, including the Chapman Street and North Main Street cemeteries in Presque Isle.
