LEWISTON – Francoise Bibian Cloutier, of 20 Gaskill Ave., Lewiston, died at her home on Nov. 27, just five days short of her 88th birthday.

She was born on Dec. 2, 1916, to Albert and Mary Bisson, in Sherbrooke, Canada, where she grew up and was educated.

She often spoke, with great pride, of her time at Mont Notre Dame, where the finest of young ladies were taught proper conduct and deportment.

On Sept. 19, 1937, she was married to Laurent O. Cloutier, at Saints Peter and Paul Church, in Lewiston. Together their love of God and each other provided them with nine children, and later on they were blessed with two foster children.

She was an active member of Holy Family Parish in Lewiston. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, The Ladies of St. Anne, Dominican Associates, Vice-President of the ACA, and past president of the Survivance Francaise. In the past, she received the honor of Mother of The Year, a title truly befitting this wonderful lady.

She had a great love for her native tongue, French, and insisted that everyone she met call her Francoise and not Frances. In addition, she belonged to two groups that she greatly enjoyed, the Knick-Knack Club and the Bambi Club, both of these groups included friends of many years, some of whom have gone before her, and others who will no doubt miss her.

A woman of deep conviction and great faith, she strived to instill a love of God in all of her children and all those she ministered to in one way or another during her life. Her greatest joy was her children, grand-children, and especially her great-grandchildren, of which she had 29. “Grandmaman Francoise” always had a candy somewhere in her room for every grandchild and great-grandchild who learned to say “ouvre la porte” by opening her locket to expose a picture of she and grandpapa, their first lesson in French.

She loved to sew, knit, and crochet, always wanting to try a new pattern for her crocheting. She was always so happy when she would find a “challenging” pattern and then master it so she could teach it to a friend.

She is survived by three of her sisters, Rita Baril and husband, Arthur, of Lewiston, Therese Provencher, of Lewiston, and Giselle Nezol, of Auburn. She leaves her sons, Raymond and wife, Beverly, of Hampton, N.H. and Ft. Meyers, Fla., Jean, of Auburn, Phillip, of Portland, Adrien and wife, Nancy, of Tyngsboro Mass., and Melbourne, of Florida; her daughter-in-law, Barbara Cloutier, of Lewiston; her daughters, Marguerite (Francesca) Cloutier, of Lewiston; Claire Poirier, of Auburn; Marie Louise Waterman, of Auburn; Lise Catherine and husband, Martin Schulze, of Lewiston; her 20 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.

She has gone on to meet up with those loved ones who went before her; her parents; her brothers and sisters; her one true love in life, Larry; her son, Roger; her foster son, Raymond Richer; and her foster daughter, Joan Richer Belanger; sons-in-law, Leo Poirier and Lloyd Waterman; as well as her great-grandson, Brandon Cloutier.

Francoise truly lived her life, right up to the very last day, her positive attitude, “joie de vivre” and her sense of humor are an inspiration to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. She will truly be missed by us all, but those of us who knew her best know how much she loved to travel, having taking many wonderful trips during her life, and now she is on the most wonderful voyage of all. We will miss you but we’ll join you later.

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