LEWISTON – Roland Collette, 82, of 1051 Sabattus St., Lewiston, passed to Heaven on Sunday, Feb. 26 at St. Mary’s Medical Center surrounded by his family.

He was born in Auburn on March 13, 1923, the son of Ronaldo and Emma (Lamiette) Collet.

He attended Auburn schools, served with the United States Marines in the South Pacific during World War II, and was a member of the American Legion Post 22 in Lewiston.

He married Jeanne Levesque, the love of his life, on Oct. 28, 1946 in Brunswick. In that same year he started his profession of being a monument maker and salesman. He and Jeanne, working side by side, went on to eventually establish the family run business, Collette Monuments Inc., of Lewiston.

A summer resident of Indian Rest in Harpswell for many years, he enjoyed boating and lobstering. Later in life, he spent his winters in Dunedin, Fla., going to the beach, golfing, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

Surviving is his wife of 59 years, Jeanne; four children, Marc and his wife, Judy, Donna Boucher and her husband, Roland, Donald and his wife, Ann and Bruce and his wife, Pauline; eight grandchildren, Melissa Stickney and her husband, Arthur, Brian Boucher and his wife, Karen, Tara, Amanda, Luc, John, Abbie and Abram Collette; three great-grandchildren, Christopher and Megan Stickney, and Ella Boucher; two sisters, Claire Martin of Westbrook and Jeanne Berube of Lewiston.

He was predeceased by his two brothers, Robert and Gerard; and his sister, Blanche.