Renee Ordway Fournier

BANGOR - Renee A. Ordway Fournier, 62, passed away April 19, 2026, at her home. She was born May 18th, 1963, to Duane and Jane (Boyle) Ordway in Pittsfield, Maine; a devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

A proud graduate of Nokomis High School, Renee developed many lifelong friendships within the town of Newport that did nothing but strengthen as time went on. She met the love of her life, Rick, on a blind date in 1988. They married two years later and proceeded to build their family and life together in the city of Bangor.

For 29 years, Renee was an award-winning reporter for the Bangor Daily News, covering everything from the city of Bangor, to breaking news, court and investigative reporting, and finally as a weekly columnist. She wrote without hesitation or remorse and often with an incredible sense of humor and humility about the things that matter to her, her community and her family.

Renee never shrank away from a divisive conversation, always in pursuit of agreement and understanding (though she was always right). She was recognized countless times nationally, regionally and locally for her writing and was particularly proud of a 2012 First Place award for daily/weekend columnist by the Maine Press Association (Nice try, Bill). Her family would encourage you to peruse her columns of days past. Here you will see her wit, her grit and her pride in serving as a voice for the people of Bangor and the state of Maine.

In addition to her career at the BDN, she hosted a radio program, served as assistant director for a local news station and who could forget her time in front of the camera as the compelling host of Public Opinion on MPBN (What grinds your crank?)

Outside of her professional endeavors, she contributed to her community on the board of directors for the Bangor Humane Society and as a volunteer for the Masonic Learning Center. Renee also served as a member of the Maine Domestic Homicide Review Panel for many years, an issue very near and dear to her heart.

Renee would tell you, however, that her most important role in life was that of a mother. Together, Renee and Rick lovingly raised two children of their own Jayci and Nick and following the murder of her sister-in-law their family grew to be larger and evermore loving with the addition of her niece and nephew.

As her children grew to adulthood, Renee put on yet another hat, joining the Unsolved Homicide Unit at the Attorney General's office as a victim advocate. This is where her professional career ended and she settled into the care of her loving family, in the home in which she nurtured so many lives with unwavering love and support.

Renee was predeceased by her biological father, Daune Ordway; adoptive father, Russell Sawyer; her two bright and beautiful older sisters, Eileen Bemis and Janelle Leeman; sister- in- law, Juli Fournier Stimus and niece, Jenni Bemis. She is survived by her mother, Jane Sawyer; husband, Rick Fournier; daughter, Jayci Fournier; son, Nick Fournier; niece, Carlin Stimus; nephew, Carson Stimus; brother-in-law, Vern Leeman, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to Bristol Hospice and Dr. Justin Otis for their kindness and support.

A memorial service for Renee will be held at 1:00p.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St, Bangor. All are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor immediately following the service. Graveside services will be private. Those who wish to remember Renee in a special way may make gifts in her memory to My Friends Place; a valued resource supporting families navigating the challenges of memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's by visiting https://myfriendsplaceprogram.org/donate-online, or, The Masonic Learning Center, that supports children and their families to overcome the challenging obstacles of dyslexia by visiting Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation, https://www.childrensdyslexiacenters.org/donate/ or, Partners for Peace, P.O. Box 653, Bangor, ME 04402; supporting, advocating and educating people affected by domestic violence, . Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.