Lorice Hafenecker

Lorice Mae Hafenecker went home to be with her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on September 7, 2026, peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, at the age of 95.
Lori was born on November 30, 1930 to the late Frank E. Nickless and Ethel “Mildred” (Pullen) Nickless.
Lori was a 1949 graduate of Waterville High School, then located at 21 Gilman St. (which has now been converted to residences). As a young girl, she worked her first job at Harris Bakery Company and later LaVerdiere's Drug Store, where her favorite position was tending the soda fountain. She worked at the Hathaway Shirt Company until the time of delivery of her twins and was too big to fit at her machine. She also enjoyed working as an Art Aid with Kitty Corti at the Waterville High School.
Her love of Jesus came from her Grammy Garland at a very young age. She remembered crying while sitting in front of the piano while her grandmother played hymns on it. She always felt Gods presence with her throughout her life.
As a teenager, she helped build the inside of her childhood home on Carver St. with her dad. Her love of flowers, baking, sewing, and reading came from both of her parents. Her mother sent her to Getchell St. Baptist Church with the Moxie girls at the age of 4. She trusted Christ as her Savior at age 14, was baptized in the baptismal there, became a member, and spent her entire life dedicated to the church. During her time there she made many special friends, Marilyn Ladd, Gayle Markee-Begin, Earline Bickford (a special traveling partner), and Phyliss Patterson.
She married the love of her life, John Joseph Hafenecker, on May 28, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland at the 7th Baptist Church, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army. After he completed his military service, they lived in Sioux City, Iowa, and then returned home to Waterville, Maine. They were married just shy of 70 years! Together, they raised four children: John (Gary), Cheryl, Kyle, and Leslie.
Lori is survived by her children: John Gary Hafenecker, Cheryl Daly and husband Tom, and Leslie Dolan and husband Patrick. She enjoyed being called 'Nana', 'Old Nana', or 'Nana Banana' by her 16 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, with one more precious great-grandchild due in February.
Lori was predeceased by her husband John, her parents Frank & Mildred, her only sibling a sister Verna Ann, her son Kyle, and her beloved sister-in-law Beatrice Hafenecker.
She will be remembered most as a strong Christian woman with a passion to serve the Lord. She served at Getchell St. Baptist Church by singing in the choir, working in the nursery, assisted in Sunday School with Bunny Harrington, serving on the Social Committee with Earlene Bickford, and serving as a Deaconess enjoying visitations to shut-ins with Donald Brown (whom she loved like a son) and hosting a bible study in her home in Winslow. Until a few days before her passing she was still talking with others about Jesus!
She will be most known for being a 'Prayer Warrior'. She prayed for everyone, everything, and everyday, continuing faithfully as she was able, until her own final prayer was answered when Jesus came to get her and take her to her eternal home in heaven, where she would be greeted by many family members and friends who went before her. She also loved reading her Bible and devotional daily.
Her Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM at GSBC (Getchell St. Baptist Church), 3 Getchell St., Waterville, ME, with refreshments to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either the Social Committee at Getchell St. Baptist Church (3 Getchell St., Waterville, ME) or the Waterville Humane Society (100 Webb Rd., Waterville, ME), where she and her husband rescued their beloved dog of 13 years, Brady.
The family extends a warm thank you to Gallant Funeral Home for helping with all of the arrangements for Lori. Please visit www.gallantfh.com to leave condolences and comments.