RUMFORD – Loretta C. Surette, 84, of Rumford died unexpectedly on Sept. 2, at her home on Franklin St., where she had resided for the last 55 years.

She was born in Rumford on July 15 1920, the daughter of the late William Fournier and Elizabeth Maillet Fournier. She attended St. John’s School and graduated from Stephen’s High School in 1938.

During World War II she worked at Remington Arms in Bridgeport, Conn. Upon her return to Rumford, she worked for the Oxford Paper Co. until her marriage to Leander Surette in 1947. She was a homemaker and raised four sons.

She was a member of St. John St. Athanasius Catholic Church and was also a member of the Ladies of St. Anne.

She was an avid reader and enjoyed taking walks around town and to the library when her health permitted. She will be fondly remembered as a loving and compassionate person who enjoyed life. She cared for a cat that she named Cindy, a stray that found a loving home with her.

She is survived by her sons, Daniel Surette, of Portland, Robert Surette, of Isleboro, and David Surette and his wife, Rhonda, of Augusta; three grandchildren, Robin Bailey, of Augusta, Lyn McLaughlin, of Denver, Colo., and Lauren Surette, of Augusta; she also was a proud great-grandmother of Patrick, Andrew and Samantha Bailey.

She was predeceased by her husband, Leander in 1995, a son, Peter in 1993, and siblings, Eric Fournier, Jeannette Hancock, Sister Bertha Fournier, Theresa Bernard, and Rita Blais.