GERMAINE MAURAIS SWENSON

MADISON – Germaine Maurais Swenson, 82, passed away Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, with her loving family by her side. Germaine was born April 11, 1926, in Berlin, N.H., the eldest daughter of Amedee and Leonie (St. Pierre) Maurais. At age 4, she moved to Jay – Chisholm, when her father was transferred, by IPCo. She attended St. Rose Parochial Elementary School, then continued her schooling at Notre Dame High School, Berlin, N.H. She returned home for her senior year at Jay High School, graduating in 1946. After marrying in 1947, she moved to Farmington. She then moved again with her family to Rangeley, where she and Barney brought up their family of nine. She was a stay-at-home mom dedicated to her family. Later on she worked seasonal jobs, remarrying in 1976 to Clifford Swenson Jr. They moved to Brewer. They lived there for eight years, and later settled in Madison. They enjoyed traveling, and tending to their beautiful flower gardens. Her beloved and soul mate, Clifford, died in 2005. She was a communicant of St. Sebastian’s Church, Madison. Germaine enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening, reading, listening to music, eating out, and a good game of Scrabble. She also loved having family get-togethers with her children and grandchildren. Christmas celebrations were an annual event that has continued for 55 years. The Maurais Family reunions were also an event that she really enjoyed. Germaine was predeceased by her parents; sister, Marcelle Kendall, brother, Henry Maurais; two daughters, Michele Wright and Patricia Bolduc; and her faithful dog and companion, Misty. She is survived by three daughters, Anne Gregory of Falmouth, Kathleen Marquis-Girard and her husband, Mark, of North Yarmouth, and Paula Schoenthaler and her husband, Mark, of Skowhegan; four sons, Dennis Marquis and his wife, Wendy, of Rangeley, Michael Marquis and his wife, Kathleen, of Kennebunkport, James Marquis and his wife, Maxine, of Belgrade, and Stephen Marquis of Skowhegan; two stepdaughters, Vyonne Manovill of Hydeville, Vt., and Jennifer Gilliland and her husband, John, of Snowhill, Md. Germaine has nine grandchildren, Karen Koziupa and her husband, William, David Wright, Amanda and Benjamin Marquis, Justin Woodard, Megan Dougherty and her husband, Michael, Audrey Schoenthaler, Lindsey Marquis, and Michele Girard; six stepgrandchildren, Sean and Ryan Manovill, Jacob Renaud, Brooke, and Emily and Samantha Gilliand; one great-grandson, Justin Lengyel; four brothers, Gerard and his wife, Lorraine Maurais, of Corinth, N.Y., Jean-Paul and his wife, Elaine Maurais, of Peru, Maine and Amedee and his wife, Julie Maurais, of Jay, Bernard and his wife, Marilyn Maurais of Corvallis, Ore.; three sisters, Adrienne and her husband, William Kelley, of Norwalk, Conn., Aline and her husband, Raymond Bryant, of Jay, and Rachel and her husband, Marvin Ellis, of Shawnee, Okla.; one sister-in-law, Gisele and her husband, Richard Jackson, of Fort Meyers, Fla.; one brother-in-law, John Kendall of Guthrie, Okla.; her godchildren, Denise, Carella and Elissa Salvini, Daniel Marquis, and Cheryl Kingman; many nieces, nephews and cousins, and her special friends that met every Friday for lunch and fun conversations. The family wishes to thank Health Reach Hospice for their help and support. Donna Mello, Carla Paine and especially Rena Clark who took such wonderful care of our mother, you are all angels in our eyes. Visitation will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Water Street, Skowhegan. A burial will take place later in the spring at Evergreen Cemetery, Rangeley. In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who desire to give gifts may do so in Germaine’s memory to the oncology department at Redington Fairview General Hospital, P.O. Box 468, Skowhegan, ME 04976; SWOAM – Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, P.O. Box 836, Augusta, ME 04332; or St. Anthony’s Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 369, Skowhegan, ME 04976. To sign an online guest book please go to www.mem.com.