FAIRFIELD, ORONO and RALEIGH, N.C. – Marie “Thelma” Ella DeRocher Letourneau, 93, quietly passed away Nov. 22, 2008, surrounded by many of the loved ones whose lives she had enriched. Marie was born April 12, 1915, in Waterville, to Henry and Roseanna (Doyon) DeRocher. By age 5, Marie lost her mother to the great influenza pandemic. For several years thereafter, she lived with the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Merici Academy, under whose tutelage she grew bilingual in English, in addition to her native French. She spent the remainder of her childhood with her maternal grandparents on their farm in Fairfield, where she attended Lawrence High School and was known for her prowess on the girls’ basketball court. Marie met Amedee Letourneau when she was 19. They married three years later and eventually settled in Fairfield, where together they owned and operated Letourneau’s Home Bakery, providing fine pastries and baked goods to the Greater Waterville area restaurants, mills, venders and other local bakeries until Amedee’s passing in 1961. For the next 17 years, Marie was employed with C.F. Hathaway, Co., Waterville. Upon her retirement she relocated to Raleigh, N.C., and lived with her younger son’s family for the next 25 years. In 2005 she returned to Maine to reside at Orono Commons, where she was also known as “memere,” and where she leaves behind many dear friends. Marie was a woman of fortitude and humility, who was mindful of her community and had unwavering optimism for the future. She was a communicant of Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fairfield and St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, Raleigh, N.C. While in Raleigh, N.C., she was also active in the local Senior Citizens Club, where she served as a former treasurer. Marie was a lifetime member of the charitable sodality of Ladies of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre and throughout the years, Quebec Province retained a special place in her heart. Marie’s steady demeanor, constancy and open-mindedness were a bolstering force to all who knew her. Her joie de vivre was inspiring. In addition to her parents, grandparents and husband, Marie was predeceased by her brothers, Ronald and Laurier DeRocher. She is survived by her four children, Rosaree Dubay and her husband, Robert, of Orono, Jules Letourneau and his wife, Gaile, of Fairfield, Anne Duval and her husband, Raymond, of Winslow and Joseph Letourneau and his wife, Jacqueline, of Raleigh, N.C. Marie is also survived by 15 grandchildren, each of whom lived with her in her Fairfield home during some part of their childhood, Jennifer Durgan, Laura Rowe, Rhonda Cuprak, Karl and Marja Dubay, Derek and Cherri Duval, and David, Michael, Gregory, Stephen, Richard, Andrew, Mark and Anthony Letourneau. They will fondly remember her many hours spent with them at bilingual whist, board games and arts and crafts projects; her attendance at their countless music, drama and sports events; her homemade root beer, soups and hand-dipped confections; and her wonderfully detailed stories of her vast life experiences. She is also survived by 25 great-grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home-Winslow Chapel, 173 China Road, Winslow. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 21 High St., Fairfield. Burial will take place immediately thereafter at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 78 Grove St., Waterville, with a reception after at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marie’s memory may be made to Catholic Charities Maine, P.O. Box 10660, Portland, ME 04104, Orono Commons Resident Council Fund, 117 Bennoch Road, Orono, ME 04473 and Ronald McDonald House, 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401. Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers Funeral Home-Winslow Chapel, 173 China Road, Winslow. Condolences may be expressed online at www.lawrybrothers.com.
MARIE ‘THELMA’ ELLA (DEROCHER) LETOURNEAU
