By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Former state Sen. Georgette Berube, a Lewiston Democrat, was remembered Thursday as a politician who never forgot the poor, the elderly and, most of all, her Lewiston constituents.

Berube, 77, who was the longest-serving female legislator in Maine, represented Lewiston for 26 years. She died Feb. 16 after a long illness.

At a Catholic funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church, Berube was lauded as someone who put people ahead of her political party, voting the way she thought best – and sometimes frustrating fellow Democrats.

One of them, Sen. John Martin, who for years was speaker of the House, recalled that some of his fondest memories of Berube involved trying to get her to change her vote.

She’d listen patiently and politely, “then say, Let me think about it,'” said Martin, one of seven who spoke to the several hundred people in the church. “She’d smile and leave, and I would know that I had lost again,” he said, generating laughter from the pews.

A line from “My Fair Lady” sums up those conversations, Martin said: “She listens very nicely, then goes out and does precisely what she wants.”

While Berube did disagree at times, she was never disagreeable. “Just because you didn’t see things her way did not mean that you weren’t still her friend,” Martin said. “Georgette always followed her conscience, rather than the crowd.”

A fellow Franco, Martin ended his eulogy with, “Au revoir, ma chere amie, que tu repose en paix.” (“Goodbye my dear friend, may you rest in peace.”)

The Rev. Daniel Greenleaf of Holy Cross Church said that during the past week he’s heard how Berube helped so many. “Some said we will never know how much good she really did, because so much of it was done quietly,” he said.

Berube, Greenleaf added, was accessible, approachable and available.

Gov. John Baldacci remembered how Berube loved her constituents, something that was evident when he campaigned with her in Lewiston.

“She said, John, we’re going to go to Liberty Mutual. We’re going to stand there and when people get out we’re going to shake hands,'” Baldacci said.

When a stream of hundreds of workers emerged from the building, “every single one of them she knew or was related to,” Baldacci mused. Those workers had “nice warm smiles when they spotted Georgette. She was loved by her people, and she loved her constituents.”

While Berube loved politics, she also loved her family, Baldacci said, recalling one reason she didn’t seek re-election in 2000 was because she did not want to miss any more of her granddaughters’ concerts.

Berube’s children, Claude and Michele, thanked friends and relatives for their support and for their visits to Berube during her sickness in her final months.

Claude recalled how his mother got into politics decades ago. She was complaining about politicians, and his father challenged her to do something instead of complain. With Gerard Berube’s help, she was elected.

“Having fought in WWII, he asked that she make and keep only one promise: Remember the veterans.’ She did,” said Claude, who’s employed by the Navy and wore his Navy uniform.

“She lived in two houses: our house and the State House.” In both of these houses, she advocated reasoned discussion over heated arguments to resolve issues. “We may not have always done that, but she did,” her son said.

Family friends Claire and Lionel Tardif, along with their son and his wife, were among those who attended. “She was a first-class lady. Everybody was respected by her, and they all loved her,” he said.

“If you had something to say, she would listen to you,” agreed Claire Tardif.

Five priests and former Maine Bishop Joseph Gerry officiated at Thursday’s service, where prayers were said in French and English. Among those attending were U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Tom Allen, and several state senators and House members from both parties.

In Augusta, the Senate adjourned Thursday afternoon in Berube’s memory.

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