STOCKHOLM – Roger R. Bossie, 82, died November 22, 2022 at home on the farm in Stockholm following a period of declining health. He was born in Stockholm, August 11, 1940, the son of the late Edwin and Lucie (Gagnon) Bossie. He attended Stockholm schools before attending St. Francis High School in Biddeford. Roger worked for the Maine State Library as a driver of the Northern Aroostook Bookmobile from 1958 to 1969, as a gate tender for Seven Island Land Company at Telos and Fish River gates from 1971 to 1972, and then worked for the Maine State Forestry service at Umsaskis Lake on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. In 1974 Roger began working for the United States Postal Service as an officer in charge. In 1977 he was promoted to Postmaster at Stockholm – where he worked until his retirement from the U.S.P.S. in 1995. After Roger retired from the U.S. Postal Service, he worked seasonally for the North Maine Woods maintaining camp sites on the St. John and Allagash rivers. Roger also served in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Devens, MA, from 1962-1964 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Perkins-Plourde Post 136 American Legion, and St. Theresa’s Parish Council.
Roger was happiest with his family. He looked forward to the annual Bossie reunions when his Alaskan family came home and everyone gathered at the farm in Stockholm in campers and tents, spending time around the campfire for two weeks in July and August. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting in the woods of Northern Maine. His favorite fishing hole was Priestly Lake where he spent his off time while stationed with his family at the Forestry camp on Umsaskis Lake. His favorite hunting story involved a 250 pound, ten point buck; its antlers hang over the fireplace, challenging his hunter sons to top that feat. Roger liked to canoe and camp with his family and tented at fifty plus sites throughout the North Maine Woods. He and Wendy travelled overseas four times and he especially enjoyed France where he could speak the language.
These activities were curtailed when Roger had a massive stroke in 2003 which left him partially paralyzed. Nevertheless he continued to live independently in the log home he had built with his family on the farm in Stockholm. He drove his bright blue Subaru to Caribou weekly. He attended Mass at St. Theresa’s every Saturday. He started every day reading his bible and was on his third time through. Roger spent much of his time inventing contraptions to make it easier for a one-armed man to live alone and well, especially when he was in the kitchen. In the past several years, the Veterans Administration and their home health care team constructed an outdoor ramp, obtained an electric wheelchair and other equipment for his well-being as well as frequently visiting. He looked forward to their company. In May of 2022 Roger was diagnosed with kidney failure. In June the Northern Light Home Care and Hospice team became part of his life and the almost daily visits gave him great comfort. His primary caregiver was Melinda Parlin; his secondary caregiver was Wendy Bossie. He enjoyed the many visits of relatives and friends during this time. Roger was a peaceful man. He always knew who he was and knew where he was going.
Roger is survived by his wife, Wendy (Lombard) Bossie, sons, Marty Bossie and wife Mona of Cordova, Alaska, and Jeff Bossie and partner Melinda Parlin of Unity, grandchildren, Elise Bossie of Browns Mills, New Jersey, Jennifer Dunbar of Kenai, Alaska, Kaitlyn Bossie of Bangor, and Samantha Bossie of Soldotna, Alaska, his brother, Richard Bossie and wife Joanne of Caribou, and sisters, Shirley Brissette of Brewer, and Anne Sandstrom of Stockholm, sisters-in-law Doris Bossie of Madawaska and Rhonda Bossie of Woodland. He was predeceased by his parents, by two brothers, James and Peter Bossie, a sister, Bernice Bossie, brothers-in-law, Delmar Brissette and Michael Sandstrom.
There will be a “blessing of the ashes” at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou, in July of 2023 when the family comes from Alaska, and a celebration of Roger’s life afterward at the Bossie farm in Stockholm. Those who wish to contribute in memory Roger may do so through the Stockholm Historical Society, 280 S. Main Street, Stockholm, ME 04783, or Stockholm Landing and Trails c/o/ Stockholm Town Office, 62 School Street, Stockholm, ME 04738.
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