LEWISTON – Rita Julia Gousse, 86, of 127 Lisbon Road, Lisbon, departed to be with our Lord Jesus on Thursday, April 22, at Marshwood Health Care Center, after a long illness with family by her side.

She was born in Lisbon, April 16, 1922, a daughter of Louie and Roseanna (Dick) Bosse. She was educated in Lisbon schools, remained a lifelong resident of this community and was a member of Holy Trinity Church in Lisbon Falls and Lisbon Senior Citizens.

She first worked for a number of years at the Continental Mill and local shoe shops and spent 14 consecutive years working two shifts during that time. She enjoyed collecting dolls and was known locally as the “Doll Lady” of Lisbon.

Many weekends you could find her at flea markets buying and selling dolls and she also had many dolls for sale at her home during lawn sales. She was an avid beano player visiting beano halls throughout Maine, where she would play at least 48 cards at a time. She also enjoyed doing word search puzzles, often for hours at a time.

She loved dogs and always enjoyed the company of her special ones, including her most recent ones, “Moxie” and “Charlie,” who kept her company at home. Also among her favorite enjoyments was Girls’ Day Out on Wednesdays with Carol and the girls plus Richard. That was a special event that she always looked forward to, going out for lunch and doing some sightseeing.

She will be greatly missed on Mother’s Day and going out to eat with the family at the Clam Bake for lobster, of which, she could eat three all by herself, as you would see her smiling and enjoying herself. Most of all, she was an avid Boston Red Sox fan.

She leaves two sons, Donald W. Brown and wife, Yong Suk, of Burke, Va., and Roger J. Brown and wife, Diane, of Lewiston; a daughter, Jo-an (Brown) Turgeon and husband, Maurice, aka Moe, of Sabattus; 14 grandchildren, Tom and fiancee Erika, Susan and husband, Scott, Ted and wife, Sandra, Christine and husband, Brian, John and companion, Tien, Tina and husband, Ken Beaulieu, Katy, Angela and husband, Chad Richards, Richard and wife, Wendy, John and wife, Renee, Lisa and companion, David, Michael Jason and companion, Velma, Charles and companion, Larissa, and Trina and husband, David; 21 great-grandchildren, Cassie and companion, Matthew, Felicia, Logan, Zachary W, the twins, Nicholas and Nathan, Zackery B, Ashley, Kerry, Nichole, Jacob, John-John, Stephanie and husband, Anthony, Heather, Michael, Seth, Casey and Kaiden, Daneille, Dennis and Breanna; two great-great-grandchildren, Talon and Collin.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Arnold C. Brown in 1989; her second husband, Dan Gousse in 1984; a daughter, Rachel in 1999; two daughters-in-law, Jeannine Lavoie and Jeannine Clavett; and two grandchildren, Brenda Lee Brown and Lisa Marie Brown.

The family thanks the staff at Marshwood Center for Healthcare & Rehabilitation, especially Rachel and Jeannine, and the staff of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, particularly Lisa and Michelle for the wonderful and loving care that was given to our Mom Rita during her stay with them.