RUMFORD – Luetta Mary Thibodeau, 90, born March 27, 1917, in Standish, daughter of Eugene and Delia Boudreau Bernard, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, Feb. 24, with her husband of 65 years and her family at her side.

She spent most of her life living in the Rumford area; however her favorite place was Roxbury Pond, where the family spent summers at their camp and where she and her husband, Philip Sr., retired in 1975. They were the first people to reside at the pond year-round and initially had to snowmobile the last mile and a half to their cottage during the winter months.

Upon retiring, Phil and Lou took up various outdoor activities, including canoeing and cros-country skiing. With a group of friends they enjoyed 20-mile ski trips and many canoe excursions down Maine and New Hampshire rivers. Though losing much of her eyesight, she continued skiing into her late 80s. Phil and Lou also played three games of cribbage everyday, one game after each meal. They relished their 30-year friendly competition. She also enjoyed gardening, knitting, berry picking, swimming, visiting with her children and grandchildren, baking and cooking… she loved to feed people.

Privately she said her prayers, keeping her strong spiritual beliefs to herself. She practiced her Christian faith according to Jesus’ teachings… she saw the good in everyone. She always counted herself lucky to be a stay-at-home mom and raised eight very grateful children.

“Mom” is survived by her husband, Philip Ernest Thibodeau Sr.; her five sons and their spouses, Phil and Janet of Rumford, Bradford and Elissa of East Andover, Dale and Patty of Portville, N.Y., Michael and Louanne of Rumford Center and Richard and Lise of Worcester, Vt.; her three daughters, Lou Ann Wallace Thibodeau and her friend, Del Johnston, of Gardiner, Debbie and her husband, Rob Peale, of Readfield and Mary Ann Thibodeau Gauthier McCall of Sanbornton, N.H.; her 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Olin, Edgar and Pete Bernard; one sister, Theresa Bourret; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Omer and Conrad “Babe” Bernard; sisters, Martha Fournier, Doris Carr and Sister Gloria Bernard; and a great-grandson, Ashton Gauthier.