Berenice Edwards

PORTLAND — Berenice E. Edwards, 88, of Raymond, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at The Cedars Nursing Home.

She was born in Raymond, Aug. 15, 1924, the daughter of Ernest R. and Keziah B. Small Edwards. She graduated from the Pennell Institute in Gray and Bliss Business College in Lewiston. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Boston University.

Her teaching career spanned more than 40 years. She taught part time at Bliss Business College, taught business at Pennell Institute from 1945 to 1947, taught business at Windham High School from 1947 to 1951, taught business at Deering High School from 1952 to 1970, she was a summer teacher at Waynflete School in 1955, taught at Portland Regional Vocational Technical Center from 1970 to 1974 and taught at Portland High School from 1974, until she retired in 1988.

She was a member of the Poland Community Church, where she served as organist, soloist and a member of the choir. She was a lifetime member of the Golden Sheaf Chapter 114, Order of the Eastern Star in New Gloucester. She was a 50-year member of the Sabbathday Lake Subordinate Grange, where she held the office of lady assistant steward and was the pianist. She was also a member of the Pomona and National Grange.

She was a member of the Beta X, Chapter of Pi Omega Pi, National Honor Fraternity, the Portland Teachers Association, the Maine Teachers Association, the National Teachers Association, the Business Education Association of Maine, the New England Business Education Association, the National Business Education Association, the International Society of Business Education, Cumberland County Retired Teachers Association and the Poland Preservation Society.

She loved singing, playing the piano and organ as well as picking strawberries with her sister. She enjoyed the animals on the farm.

She is survived by several cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents; her sisters, Florriette in 1929 and Dorothy in 2006; and her brother, Carleton in 1991.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m. at Berenice’s home, 96 North Raymond Road in Raymond.

In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Sabbathday Lake Grange or the Cumberland County All Star 4H Dairy, 50 West Farm Rd., Parsonsfield, ME 04047.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 26 West Dwinal Street, Mechanic Falls.