Augusta – Roland Joseph Therrien, 95, of Jay, Maine passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta, surrounded by family. He was born in a stone house in Livermore Falls, Maine on December 31,1926. He was the son of Wilfred Charlie Therrien & Lillian Richie. Roland attended area schools until his mother’s death at age 9. He became an orphan and lived with various family members, including an orphanage in Lewiston until the age of 17, when he enlisted in the U.S Navy. Roland shared with family that joining the Navy was the first time he felt he had a warm bed to sleep in & warm food to eat since his mother’s death. On December 31, 1944, at the peak of WWII, Roland was assigned to the U.S.S Hobson, a destroyer/minesweeper ship that participated in major battles in Germany including the invasion of Normandy. His primary duty was to be the lookout in the crow’s nest. His ship was hit by a Kamikaze suicide plane during the invasion of Okinawa & nearly sunk. He received his honorable discharge in April of 1946 with numerous commendations and medals from the European & Asiatic Theaters. After being discharged from the navy, Roland joined the National Guard & served for three years. After his service in the National Guard, he was employed at both the International Paper CO. and James River Otis Mill, as a security guard, paymaster, and telephone operator until his retirement in 1990. Roland was a very active member of the local VFW Post #3335 and the AMVETS Post #33 throughout his life, participating in fundraising activities such as the annual chicken BBQ, blood drives, the color guard, Special Olympics, as well as a member of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association. He earned his honorary high school diploma as a WWII veteran at the age of 77 in 2003.Roland had the privilege of participating in the Honor Flight in 2017 with other veterans to view the WWII memorials. Roland was known for his kindness, incessant humor, gift of laughter and storytelling. Many looked forward to his lively, colorful, and humorous stories from days past. Roland was a great dancer and when there was a celebration of some kind, he was the life of the party. He was a man of many hats. Roland found joy in feeding the crows, helping others, and was an extremely hard worker. Roland was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and four wheeling. He also was a faithful member of the St. Rose of Lima church, where he participated in the choir for many years. Roland was an inspiration to so many & will be greatly missed. The world lost a great man who once said, “learn to love life.” Roland was preceded in death by 4 of his children, Roland Jr, Chuck, Timmy, and Lisa, and his brothers Robert and Buckshot. He is survived by his wife Therese; his two sons Raymond (and spouse Joanne) and John Paul, his daughter Bonita; his stepsons, Armand, Claude, and Daniel (spouse Annette); 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren, and 6 step great grandchildren. Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.finleyfuneralhome.com

Therrien – Roland Joseph, 95, of Jay, Maine passed away February 15, 2022, in Augusta, Maine, surrounded by family. A Mass of Christian Burial with Full Military honors will be celebrated at 11AM on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street, Jay, Maine with Father Thomas Lequin presiding. Visiting hours will be held from 4PM-7PM, on Friday, February 18, 2022, at FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. The family has requested that all attendees of the Mass and visitation wear a mask. Interment in the spring at Holy Cross Cemetery, 445 Park Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Roland Therrien’s Memory to: VFW Post 3335, 64 Jewell Street, Jay, Maine 04239.