Rea A. Denico

MADISON -- Rea A. Denico, 65, passed away at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, attended by her husband and daughters.

She was born in Masardis on Aug. 12, 1944, to Ruth (Hayward) and Earl Tibbetts of Garfield.

In 1952, she moved to the family's dairy farm in Solon, where she developed her devotion to family and love of animals, farming, hunting and fishing.

Rea attended school in Athens, graduating from Somerset Academy in 1962. She went on to receive training as a laboratory technician at Redington-Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan, where she practiced for many years, as well as at the University of Maine Infirmary.

She married Douglas Denico on May 27, 1967. They enjoyed 43 years together. Starting in 1970, they lived in Madison and purchased a farm there in 1978. Her farming roots were strong and over the years she raised sheep, replacement heifers and beef cattle, with horses and various types of domestic fowl added in from time to time. She spent countless hours nurturing an English-style flower garden that never stopped growing. Most every summer evening, she could be found there enjoying the sunset. She spent time in the family woodlots, hunting and helping Doug put up the winter's wood supply. In 2000, she and her husband designed her new house which brought her great enjoyment. From 1982 to 1993, she was the proud owner of Krafts and Kreations, located on Water Street in Skowhegan.

Rea spent a great deal of her time in the Allagash area at the family camp, built in 1973. She and Doug hunted, fished and explored the surrounding area. She worked very hard turning the camp into a comfortable four-season "home" that her family enjoyed.

Her daughters and granddaughters added great joy to her life. No matter where she was or what she did, her children and grandchildren were inseparable from her every thought and with her whenever possible.

In addition to her husband Doug, Rea is survived by her daughters, Tamara Denico and Tonia Bagley; her son-in-law, Patrick Bagley; her three granddaughters, Rowan Bagley, Hannah Denico and Sarah Bagley; her "adopted" son Robert Bagley and "honorary third daughter" Jeannine Annis; her sister, Lona French and her children, Blaine, Lawanda, Wade, and Laurie; her brother Dale Tibbetts and his wife, Patricia, and their children Wayne, Erroll, Darren and Trisha; her brother, Alton Tibbetts and his wife, Linda and their children Gary, Shannon, and Stacy; her brother-in-law Fredrick Denico and his wife, Camille, and their children Fredrick, Donald and Nicole.

The family deeply appreciates the care and compassion Rea received from the staffs of Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, MaineGeneral Medical Center's Thayer Unit in Waterville, Maine Medical Center in Portland and the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta.

Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Smart and Edwards Funeral Home on 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Church of the Open Bible in Athens. A reception at the church will follow the service. Burial will take place later in the spring.

The family is requesting all floral gifts be in the form of live flowers so they can be nurtured and planted in the spring in a memorial garden in Rea's memory.

Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan.