OTISFIELD & NORTH READING, MASS. — Juanita Mason Cafiso, of Otisfield and N. Reading, Mass., died January 11, 2015.

Juanita was born in Quincy, Mass., on Nov. 12, 1936, grew up in Cambridge, Mass., and maarried and raised her family in Arlington, Mass., before moving to Maine in the 1980s to enjoy a full and busy retirement with her husband in their log home in Otisfield. More recently, Juanita lived in North Reading, Mass. with family.

She was the loving wife for 56 years to the late Lewis “Joe” Cafiso, and had a dear sister, the late Bernice Ellis. Juanita left many friends and family including her five children: Mark Cafiso and his wife Mary Ellen of Maine, Matthew Cafiso of Colo., Rosemarie Bernard and her husband Tom of Tenn., Tammy Bernard and her husband Michael of Mass., and Paul Cafiso and his wife Sonia of Ariz. Juanita had nine grandchildren and two step-grandchildren: Jacqueline Nadeau and her husband Michael, Christina Cafiso, Giovanni Cafiso and his wife Miranda, Archer, and Sanovia Cafiso, Nicholas Bernard and his wife Kendra, Sam Bernard, Julia and Olivia Bernard, Brandon Therriault and his wife Sandra, and Alex Therriault, and three great-granddaughters, Sophia, Asia and Peyton.

Juanita enjoyed many hobbies and was happiest around family and friends, working in her vegetable garden, cooking, knitting and sewing, including making four beautiful wedding gowns. Juanita worked primarily with children as a nanny and later as a school bus driver with the Lake Region School District. Her love of all children touched many young lives. She will be missed by all who enjoyed her hospitality and kind nature.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Juanita’s life on Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Church, 276 King St., Oxford, followed by a reception in Otisfield.