SABATTUS – Merilda B. Cyr of Main Street, Sabattus, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 16, at home after a brief illness.

She was born on March 8, 1918, in St. David, the eldest child of Levite and Emma (Beaulieu) Beaulieu. On Oct. 17, 1938, she married the late Gilbert Cyr in Van Buren. She moved to Lewiston in 1941 with her family to find work at the mills.

In 1957, her and her husband moved to Sabattus, where they raised eight children. She was a very strong and determined woman, working all her life and raising a family. She fulfilled her dream of becoming a certified nurse’s aide and worked for St. Mary’s Hospital and Marcotte Nursing Home.

She was an accomplished seamstress, having sewed for many people in the area. It was nothing for her to whip up a wedding dress for a daughter or sewing patches on uniforms for local military boys.

After retiring in 1980, she enjoyed going on trips with the Sabattus Senior Citizens, where she was a charter member and a past president. She especially enjoyed bowling with the seniors and was a past member of the Jacques Cartier Club in Sabattus. She was an active member of the Harry J. Conway Unit 135, Sabattus American Legion Auxiliary.

She was a very patriotic lady who believed in flying our flag every day at home. She also loved to play beano with her daughter, Rudy, whenever she could. She recently became a member of the Rocking Red Hat Ladies Society. Family was everything to her, especially Sunday dinner and going fishing at Popham Beach.

She is survived by one son, Jean Cyr, with whom she made her home; six daughters, Ruth Michaud, and husband, Henry, of Jay, Rudy Gayton of Sabattus, Judy Cyr, and husband, Moe, of Sabattus, June Cyr, and companion, David Webber, of Greene, Joan Caron, and husband, Ron, of Sabattus and Jane Metzler, and husband, Todd, of Harpswell; 22 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Carmen Beaulieu, and her companion, Bob St. Armand, of Lisbon Falls; three brothers, Ned Beaulieu, and wife, Carmen, of Lewiston, Louie Beaulieu, and wife, Juliette, of Litchfield and John Beaulieu, and wife, Shirley, of Coventry, Conn.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gilbert, in January 1998; two sons, Camill in 1941 and John in 1988; a granddaughter, Betty-Jo Michaud; four brothers, Nazaire, Eustach, Camill and Richard Beaulieu; and one sister, Lorette McKeen.

The family would like to say thank you to Marshwood Nursing Home for the care they have given her in the past and to Dr. Karim Yacoub for taking the time to listen and care for her and to Androscoggin Hospice Care for being there when we needed you.