Mildred E. Wakana
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Lebanon, NH - Mildred E. Wakana, 91, passed away peacefully at Valley Terrace on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Born to William C. & Helen (Peck) Flad on March 21, 1928 in New York City, she lived her early years in Queens Village NY, graduated from Queens College in 1949, and attended Radcliff College in Cambridge MA. Millie married Dr. Minoru "Toby" Wakana in 1955 and they had two children, living in Hampton VA, Lancaster NH, Caribou ME, Hartland VT, Lebanon NH, and even Marugame City in Japan. In Japan she taught English to the locals. She was also a bookkeeper for many years and loved working with numbers, and once even picked potatoes with her children to keep an eye on them during the seasonal ritual in northern Maine. They retired to Hartland VT in 1990.
Millie loved living in New England and the cold weather of Caribou ME. She enjoyed hiking, skiing and driving a car, and was a wonderful wife and mother who took great care of her family. She was known for her frankness, intellect, and humor. She told it like it was, was politically savvy, great at Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy, and often had a comment or reply that made you smile. Millie also enjoyed listening to classical music with her husband, and could name the composer of most any piece she heard. She even started playing the recorder herself, at the young age of 82.
She is survived by her son David Wakana (wife Diana) of Caribou ME, her daughter Janet Moore (husband Doug) of Lebanon NH, twin sister Carolyn Gorlicki (husband Albert) of Tinton Falls NJ, three grandsons; Benjamin Wakana (wife Katie) and great granddaughter Locke of Washington DC, Keegan Wakana (fiancee Victoria Dorman) of Bangor ME, and Tyler St. Martin of Lebanon NH, and a nephew Michael Gorlicki (husband Mitchell Kramer) of Kendall Park NJ.
There will be no calling hours or funeral, just a family celebration of life. Millie will have a private graveside service and be buried with her husband. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bayada Hospice or Cary Medical Center in Caribou ME.
An online guest book is available to leave a message of condolence for Millie's family by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.