FORT KENT – Muriel T. Lebel, 84, died unexpectedly Sept. 14, 2009, at a Bangor hospital. She was born May 6, 1925, in Van Buren, the daughter of Joseph and Bernice (Belanger) Tardif. Muriel attended Madawaska Training School and worked as a teacher at Market Street School for many years. Her love and her passion, though, was teaching in the School of Religion until her retirement. She also worked alongside her beloved late husband, Albert J. Lebel, to whom she was married for more than 56 joyful years at the time of his passing, delivering Railway Express items. A lifelong member of Ladies of St. Anne, Muriel was a devout Christian, volunteering much of her time to St. Louis Catholic Church, where she would count and tally weekend Mass collections, was a Eucharistic minister and spent countless hours in service at Good Shepherd Thrift Shop. She loved to cook and could feed an army at a moments notice. She will be sadly missed, but lovingly remembered as a selfless, giving person who loved and nurtured her family and cherished her grandchildren. She is survived by her family: children, Donald Lebel and his wife, Lisa, of Fort Kent, David and his wife, Terry, of Bucksport, Jean Marie Lebel and her fiance, Philip St. Laurent, of Hudson and Patricia Couture and her husband, Gerald, of Orland; five grandchildren, Jacob, Paige, Ken, Jesse and Caitlyn; two stepgrandchildren, Corey and Troy Pelletier; six brothers, Rudolph and Roderick Tardif, both of East Hartford, Conn., John Tardif of Caribou, Gene Tardif of Presque Isle, Danny and William, both of Hartford, Conn.; three sisters, Viola Sirois of Caribou, Ann Marie Bouchard of Manchester, Conn., and Nancy Holabird of Caribou; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by one brother, Leo; and one sister, Connie LaRosa. Friends may call 8:30-9:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Daigle & Nadeau Funeral Home, Fort Kent. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. Committal services will be afterward at the parish cemetery. Those wishing to contribute in Muriel’s memory may donate to St. Louis Parish Good Shepherd Thrift Shop.
MURIEL T. LEBEL
