Juanita Macara, retired nurse, WWII veteran, wife of the late Nobert N. Macara, mother of five and grandmother of two, died peacefully at Cape Cod Hospital on Friday, May 28, 2021. She enjoyed a long and healthy life until her later years, when she suffered, yet accepted, her greatly diminished eyesight and hearing with a remarkable lack of resentment or self-pity. Juanita was a devoted Catholic and her faith, no doubt, helped her through her difficulties and allowed her to keep her upbeat, sweet and charming personality, even at the end of her long life of 97 years.
Juanita was born and raised in the small town of Eagle Lake, Maine, not far from the Canadian border. The public school of Eagle Lake was run by Catholic nuns and almost everyone in this closely-knit town spoke French as much as English. The nuns were known to have skated on the lake with their students. Juanita's folks, Ernest and Imelda Michaud, owned a general store in town that included the town's post office. The Michauds, Ernest, his wife Imelda, Juanita and her four siblings: Norman, Jackie, Richard and Judy, all lived upstairs from the store/post office. Juanita's father Ernest sold insurance, owned an active maple sugar camp and maintained a few lakeside cottages that were rented to vacationers.
During and following World War II, Juanita, as a young Navy Nurse Lieutenant, was in charge of a hospital ward at Chelsea Naval Hospital caring for military personnel. It was there she met the Navy serviceman patient who would later become her husband, Nobert Macara. She was welcomed warmly into the Macara family and soon became a valued member of the Provincetown community. Nobert's sisters were very generous with their knowledge of Portuguese recipes and local traditions, accepting her as one of their own. She had five children with Nobert, all raised in Provincetown. Her nurse training had prepared her for a life of caring for others. She worked for some years at the Cape End Manor in its original location at the Grace Gouveia Building on Alden Street. When the position of School Nurse for the Provincetown Schools became available, Juanita was happy for the opportunity to serve again. Many people remember her best as their School Nurse. Others will remember her as a volunteer in the community. She was actively engaged in the P.T.A., Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc. and was a dedicated member of the Nautilus Club, a local, philanthropic women's group. She played piano, was an avid tennis fan and played tennis well into her 80s. Respected in the community and universally liked for her generous warmth and charm, she will be missed by all who knew her.
Juanita is survived by four of her five children: Claire Macara, Peter Macara, Richard Macara and Jacques (Jack) Macara, now married to Laura Shabott. Jill (Lambrou) Macara and Jack had provided Juanita with her two grandchildren, now adults: Heather (Macara) Pearson, married to Tim Pearson, and Derek Macara. Juanita's son Dean N. Macara had died in 2018, leaving his devoted partner of 35 years, (William) Court Prentice, of Vero Beach, FL. Of her four siblings, Juanita is survived by one sister, Judy (Michaud) Stentaford, residing in Eagle Lake, Maine. So many nieces, nephews and friends will all be.. remembering Juanita, fondly.
Calling hours will be Thursday June 3rd from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Gately Funeral Home, 94 Harry Kemp Way, Provincetown. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, June 4th at 10:00 am at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 11 Prince St, Provincetown. The Funeral Mass will be ‘live streamed’ on stpeters-ptown.org. Burial will follow in St Peters Cemetery. Face covering is strongly recommended for those not vaccinated for the Covid-19 virus.