LEWISTON – Gail C. Bentz, 64, of Elaine Avenue, died late Tuesday evening, March 15, at d’Youville Pavilion with her family at her side.

She was born in Old Town, on Sept. 26, 1940, a daughter of Alfred and Pauline (Pelletier) Ballargeon. She was educated in Old Town schools and graduated from Old Town High School in 1958.

She worked as a homemaker all her married years and was always very involved in community and veterans’ affairs, and doing volunteer work for charities. She was a member of the Lewiston Lodge of Elks, where she held several elected positions, and was also a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 9150, which she founded and served as its charter president for the first two years.

In addition, she was also a member of American Legion Post 158 Ladies Auxiliary as well as Franco American Veterans’ Ladies Auxiliary. She was also an advocate for several years for the Ombudsman Program for Maine. In her free time, she enjoyed traveling, camping, shopping and socializing with friends.

She leaves her husband, Arthur W. Bentz, of Lewiston, whom she married Jan. 22, 1977; two daughters, Lisa Hebert and husband, Michael, of Greene, and Debra Michaud and husband, Raynold, of Wrightston, N.J.; two sons, Matthew Costello and wife, Cecile, of Old Town, and David Costello and wife, Sally, of Baltimore, Md.; her mother, Pauline Ballargeon of Old Town; nine grandchildren, John, Benjamin, Colby, Simon, Samuel, Thomas, Britni, Alexandra and Grace; six stepchildren, Art Bentz and wife, Mary, Bobby Bentz and wife, Marie, Jim Bentz and wife, Jen, Karen Strobel and husband, John, Kim Carmardello and husband, Jerry, and Linda Diehl and husband, Corey, all of Illinois; 18 stepgrandchildren; a sister, Cheryl Petrie and husband, Robert, of Benton; two nephews, Jason Petrie and Troy Petrie; and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

She was predeceased by her first husband, John Costello, on Sept. 25, 1968; and by her father, Alfred.

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