AUBURN – Carmel Laverdiere, 78, formerly of 117 Holland St., Lewiston, died June 16, at Clover Manor after a long illness.

She was born in Lewiston on Dec. 1, 1928, the daughter of Willie and Benoite (Beland) Turcotte.

She was educated at Holy Cross School and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1946, and then St. Mary’s School of Nursing in 1949.

After raising six children, she returned to nursing, working first at CMMC and then taking a position with Androscoggin Home Health in its early years.

In the meantime, she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at St. Joseph College in Windham in 1986.

She worked as a school nurse in most of the elementary schools in Lewiston, and finally at Lewiston High School, from which she retired in 1991.

Carmel had many interests and talents. She was a genealogy buff and compiled an extensive family genealogy. She also chaired a committee to research and produced the Saints Peter and Paul Church Album in 1996. She enjoyed playing the piano, reading, painting, traveling, and was especially adept at gardening.

She is survived by her husband, Rodolphe Laverdiere, who she married on Nov. 27, 1952; four daughters, Marie Laverdiere of Hebron, Lorraine Powell and her husband, John, of Lewiston; Lise Farmer and her husband, Robert, of Powder Springs, Ga., and Rose Gagne and her husband, Dave, of Lewiston; and two sons, Marc Laverdiere and his wife, Margie, of Lewiston, and Jacques Laverdiere and his wife, Melissa, of Auburn; one sister, Sister Lorraine Turcotte of Canada; nine grandchildren, Benjamin, Janna, Christine, Tommy, Shannah, Leanne, Kimberly, Samantha, and Christopher; one great-grandchild, Clea; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by one sister, Beatrice Roy.