A graveside service for Marguerite A. Mills, 99, who passed away on February 12, 2023 will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 11 a.m., at Achorn Cemetery, Rockland.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.

VINALHAVEN — Marguerite A. Mills, 99, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday morning, February 12, 2023. Her final moments were spent holding hands with loved ones, who were at her bedside to comfort her, at Southern Harbor House on North Haven Island, where she had resided for the past five months.

Marguerite was born, September 4, 1923, just ahead of her identical twin sister, Marjorie, in their family’s farmhouse at Poole’s Hill on Vinalhaven Island.

Marguerite was predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Lester D. Mills; parents, Ira Lewis MacDonald and Elsie Laverne Brown MacDonald; older sister Norma A. MacDonald Lloyd identical twin sister, Marjorie E. “Bambi” MacDonald Greenlaw, Marguerite’s first love and financé, William “Bill” Littlefield, all of Vinalhaven; as well as two brothers-in-law, Wilfred “Mouse” Lloyd and Alfred “Kippy” Greenlaw.

Marguerite’s fiancé Bill Littlefield died in 1944 while serving his country.

On June 15, 1946, Marguerite married Lester D. Mills at Vinalhaven. Marguerite and Lester, a WW2 veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, named their first child, a son, William after Bill Littlefield. For many years Marguerite wore Bill’s engagement ring and Lester’s wedding band.

Over the years, she worked at many different jobs, but considered her family and providing a home for them as her true vocation.

Active in the island community for many years, she was a past member of the Pleasant River Grange #492, VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary, Vinalhaven Extension, the Union Church where for many years she taught Sunday school and was an active member of the church’s Ladies Circle.

After moving to Rockland in the late 80’s, she attended the Owls Head Baptist Church.

Marguerite is survived by her children, William D. Mills and his wife Joy Wadleigh Mills, Bonnie Jo Mills Hopkins all of Vinalhaven; five grandchildren, Michelle E. Mills Stanley of Rockland, Stephanie Anne Mills and her husband Brian Johnson, James Lester Hopkins of and his partner Shannon of Dresden, Greg Hopkins of Vinalhaven and Laura Hopkins Osgood and her husband Philip, all of Vinalhaven; 13 great grandchildren, Jacob, Brian, Kassandra, Jason, Max, Hannah Jo, Cole, Carolyn, Andrew, Frank, Joe, Myra Joy and Emilie Alice; seven great-great grandchildren, Jonah, Greyson, Savannah, Madelyn, Elijah, William and Prudence; many beloved nieces and nephews, friends and extended family; her church family from the churches she attended and belonged to (most recently Open Bible Baptist Church of Vinalhaven), as well as the loving and devoted staff that became like family at Ivan Calderwood Homestead in Vinalhaven and Southern Harbor House on North Haven.

Marguerite or “Budda” to those who knew her best, will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her, until we meet her again in heaven. John 3:16

A service will be announced in the spring. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.

To share a memory or story with Marguerite’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com