CARIBOU – John Baptist Edmond Bourgoine, 96, husband of the late Lillian Mary (Cote) Bourgoine, for 73 years, died June 2, 2004, at his home in Caribou, surrounded by his family. He was born June 24, 1907, at Van Buren, the son of Edward and Agnes (Tardie) Bourgoine. John is the last surviving member of his family. He was educated in the Limestone school system and married Lillian on Feb. 18, 1930. John and Lillian homesteaded in Limestone, on the former Loring Air Force Base, from 1931-1947. They moved to New Sweden in July of 1947. They retired from farming in 1975 and built their retirement home on the Fort Fairfield Road in Caribou. John was born to generations of farming. He loved the land and fine horses. He remembered the horse and buggy days well and he was a great storyteller. He was a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church in Limestone and the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Stockholm. For many years John and Lillian were the oldest married couple in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Caribou. John is survived by his eight children, Thomas Bourgoine of Weaverville, Calif., Agnes Porter, Lauretta and her husband, Orman Blackstone, John Bourgoine and his wife, Brenda, all of Caribou, Joyce and her husband, Bobby Kohler, of Austell, Ga., Valada and her husband, Gary Delaney, of Cross Lake, Peter Bourgoine and his wife, Lorraine, and Vickie and her husband, David St.Peter, all of Madawaska Lake; 34 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren; and 38 great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters, Geraldine Morrow on Nov. 3, 1996, and Mariel Dewkett on Nov. 23, 1974; three brothers, Ben in 1979, Joseph in 1986, Louis in 1984; three sisters, Emma Embleton in 1917, Pearl Roix in 1984, Alice Jones in 1990; and he was also predeceased by six infant brothers and sisters. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday at the Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 5, 2004, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church with the Fr. Jean-Paul Labrie, pastor, officiating in a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of John may do so through the Ronald McDonald House, 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401-5649 or to the charity of one’s choice. Envelopes may be obtained through the funeral home.
JOHN BAPTIST EDMOND BOURGOINE
