Juanita Mae Williams Skogland

Juanita Mae Williams Skogland, 92, of Rome, New York departed from her temporary home on earth on June 16th to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven.

Born on May 31, 1931 in Houston, Texas, daughter of James Hamlin Williams and Ernestine Agnes de Pomorski Williams, Juanita was one of six children.

Juanita entered into holy matrimony with Dr. Herbert L. Skogland, Jr. in 1952. They were married for 30 years and blessed with three children, Suzanne Skogland McKenney, Jennifer Skogland Dumesnil and Gregory Neil Skogland.

Along with her husband, an o?cer in the Air Force, they were stationed at Gri?ss Air Force Base in 1964. After leaving the service, together they built their home, Summerplace, on Lake Delta where they raised their children.

Juanita went back to school in 1981. She graduated with Associate in Science, Liberal Arts and Sciences from Mohawk Valley Community College as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, National Honor Fraternity, Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University and Master of Science and Education from State University of New York, College at Cortland. She loved nurturing children and worked as a reading specialist and speech therapist for BOCES in New Harford for 20 years, retiring at the age of 78.

Juanita was a member of the Military O?cers' Wives Club, Rome Twigg, Wednesday Morning Club (50-Year Member), Gri?ss Ski Club, Lake Delta Yacht Club, Teugega Country Club, Teugega Point Neighborhood Association, and St. John's Lutheran Church.

Juanita enjoyed the four seasons that Upstate New York offers. She was an avid sailor and athlete, enjoying tennis, snow and water skiing, swimming, bowling, golf, and kayaking. She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed painting, antiquing, gardening, creative writing, and anything her children or grandchildren were interested in.

Juanita will be remembered for her grateful attitude, generosity of hospitality, enduring and beautiful smile, and compassionate concern and encouragement for others. Her loving kindness was pure and honest. To her many, many friends and family, she was affectionately known as Nita. Nita enjoyed life to its fullest while handling adversity with grace and poise. She modeled eternal optimism with eloquence and authenticity, an inspiration to all who knew her.

Juanita is predeceased by her parents; sisters, Joy Contance Kitchen and Ernestine Marie Barber and brother, James Herbert Williams. She is survived by her sister, Dolores Ann Cooper; brother, Chester Neal Williams; children, Suzanne and husband, Douglas Matthew McKenney of Westfield, IN, Jennifer and husband Henry A. Dumesnil of Louisville, KY, and Gregory of Rome, NY; grandchildren, Matthew Caisse McKenney and wife, Alison, Neil Douglas McKenney, Grace Rogers Dumesnil, Elizabeth Rowland Dumesnil, and Aleida Juanita Skogland; and great grandchildren, Caisse Marie McKenney and Adelynn Grace McKenney.

The family of Juanita would like to offer a special thank you to her many dear friends, caregivers, Julie and Rich Tucker, Jamie Ramnarine and Robin Jones, Martina Martyn, MD, Nalini Namassivaya, MD, Brian Alessi, MD, Rome Health Hospital, Bethany Gardens, AIM Hospice and Palliative Care, Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, and Rome Cemetery for their tender loving care of her in life and in death.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the old stone chapel on site at Rome Cemetery where Chaplin Walter Plock, will officiate. Interment will take place in Rome Cemetery immediately following the service. Family and friends are invited and may call on Thursday, June 22nd from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome. In lieu of flowers to honor Juanita's memory, her family requests contributions be made to the Chapel Restoration Fund at Rome Cemetery in celebration of Juanita's love of history and charm of old historical buildings.

You may light a candle, send a message of sympathy, and read the obituary at www.nunnandharper.com.