AUBURN – Janice T. Colson, 66, of Clover Manor, Minot Avenue, Auburn, died May 4, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle.

Janice and her twin sister, Jean, were born in Swampscott, Mass., on Jan. 3, 1939, to Albert and Mary Coraine Legere. She attended Swampscott High School.

After her divorce, Jan raised her three children, Debi, Rick and Mark, by herself, often working three jobs to do so. She was a beautician, cook, house painter, and plumber, whatever it took to support her family.

In later years, after moving to Maine, she worked at the Pineland Center as a unit supervisor. At age 44, she and friend, Anita Dubois, were owners of the Sleepytime Motel and Janita’s Kitchen in Auburn.

Jan loved music and always had a little tune to sing for you. She also loved camping and cooking. Anyone who was pleasured by her Italian food will never forget it.

She was an avid student of the Bible, and in recent years took great hope in God’s promises of a resurrection here on Earth. She looked forward so much to seeing her two sons again (John 5:28, 29).

Jan always put others before herself in countless situations, even when her health was at its worst. She will be remembered for her huge heart and great sense of humor.

She is survived by and will be sadly missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Debrajean and Marc Bissonette of Auburn; brother and sister-in-law, Allan and Victoria Legere of Georgia; a sister, Joan Denham of Massachusetts; two granddaughters, Laura Fecteau and husband, Jeff, of Lewiston, and Katelin Kammerer of South Carolina; two grandsons, Jesse Shepherd and wife, Angela, of Auburn, and Nathan Reynolds of Massachusetts; four great-grandchildren, Serena Fecteau, Kerry Shepherd, Kayleb Shepherd, and Taylor Smith Shepherd; and many loved cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents; her twin sister, Jean, and two sons, Rick and Mark Colson.