LEWISTON – Dorothy Y. Aripez, 78, of 23 Spofford St., passed away peacefully May 25, on her 78th birthday.

She was born in Lewiston, on May 25, 1930, to the late Ovila and Arline (St. Pierre) Lessard. She was married 24 years to Carlos Aripez until his passing in 1976.

She worked in many local shoe factories until her retirement in 1996. The past couple of years, she took pleasure in courageously traveling on her own to visit her sons in Georgia, and Minnesota.

She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and playing games. She also enjoyed family get togethers and talking for hours on the phone with her sister Carmen.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Tina Benda of Lewiston, Michael Aripez of Sabattus, Paul Aripez and his wife, Bobbie, of St. Mary’s, Ga., Gerard Aripez and his wife, Kim, of Zumbrota, Minn.; five grandchildren, Tracie Ridley, Dale Benda, Nicholas Aripez, Donna Couture and Tommy Moccia; great-grandchildren, Austin and Logan Benda and Cole Ridley; a sister, Carmen Marcoux of Lewiston.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Roland and Gerard Lessard.