Dolores Hainer

On April 2, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, Dolores "Del" Hainer went to heaven. Born February 3, 1931, in a farmhouse on Brissette Road in Caribou, Del was the second of three daughters to Isadore Theriault and Florence (Brissette) Theriault.

When she was four, her French-speaking family moved to Bangor, then bought a home on Pendleton St. in South Brewer. She attended St. Teresa's Elementary School and graduated from St. John Baptist High School in 1949. After high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Army, attained the rank of sergeant and served as a medic in Okinawa, Japan, during the Korean War. This experience made a lasting impression on her life.

Del married Gerald "Butch" Hainer and they had six children. The family moved to Hampden in 1958. Del graduated from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1969 and raised her children as a working mom and single parent, after divorcing in 1971. Amazingly, she maintained her sanity, and none of her "mischievous but not malicious children" ended up in Thomaston Prison! She worked full-time as a cardiac nurse at St. Joseph Hospital PCU, where she developed lasting friendships; retiring after 25 years of service in 1994.

After retirement, Del worked tirelessly with the Burton-Goode-Sargent chapter of Maine Korean War Veterans; its three-year fundraising "One More Hill" campaign raised $60,000 for the 8-ton granite Korean War Monument, installed in 1995. For the next 30 years, Dolores was a fixture at Cole's Transportation Museum, logging 2341 volunteer hours. She shared her military experiences with the many Maine children who visited the museum. Her experiences are recorded at The Maine Women Veterans Oral History Project and The National Military Women's Memorial. She felt fortunate to participate with Honor Flight Maine to visit the National Military Museum, there placing a Maine wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with her Army Veteran son, Mark, watching.

Del loved children, knitting mittens, embroidering pillowcases, and for decades sending cards, in her beautiful handwriting with "bushels of hugs" to family and friends.

Dolores was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Stella and Nancy; infant son, Stephen; and son, Dana. Surviving are daughters, Susan McCallum (John) of Hampden and Theresa Hainer (Skip Howard) of Glenburn; sons, Mark (Marlene) of Gig Harbor, WA, and Andrew of Hampden; "third daughter/niece," Robinette Pare of Carmel; granddaughters, Heather, Amber, Noelle, and Heidi; grandsons, Zachary, Michael, Marshall, Martin, and Andrew; great-grandchildren, Kai, Evelyn, Bruno, Ramona, Emma, Izzie, Parker, Thomas, Wes, Ben, Sela and Knox.

The family expresses deep appreciation to all Del's friends at The Ellen Leach memorial Home in Brewer and for the expert and compassionate care she received at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor.

A funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. May 3, 2025, at St. Teresa's Catholic Parish in South Brewer, followed by a 1 p.m. celebration of her life at St. Michael's Center, 436 So. Main St., and a 4 p.m. military graveside service at Pine Grove Cemetery, Hammond Street, Bangor. Those who wish to remember Del may make a donation to Cole's Transportation Museum, Honor Flight Maine, or St. Joseph Hospital. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.