LEWISTON – Lorraine Yvette Labonte, 80, formerly of 20 Highland Ave., Lewiston, died Friday, July 25, after a long illness at d’Youville Pavilion, where she had resided since November 2001.

She was born in Lewiston on June 17, 1928, the daughter of the late Auguste and Maria Cormier Lajoie, and graduated from Saints Peter and Paul High School in 1945. Following high school, she worked at Ward Bros. until leaving to work as a bookkeeper in the family business, Labonte’s Fuel Service. Later, she returned to work in the credit office of Ward Bros. until her retirement.

She married Simeon Joseph Labonte on July 4, 1948, and they spent 55 years together. Mr. Labonte passed away on Dec. 27, 2003.

A member of Holy Family Church and the Ladies of St. Anne, her hobbies included watching the Boston Bruins, cooking Sunday dinners, and spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing Pokeno and tending her rose bushes.

Survivors include her five children, Paul and wife Sharon (Hall) Labonte of Scarborough, Diane and husband, Gerard Casavant, of Hudson, N.H., Marc and longtime companion, Gayla Peters, of Lewiston, Denis of Saco, and Carol and husband, Jimmy Pleau, of Auburn; a sister, Normande Moreau of Lewiston; three brothers, Rene and wife Jocelyn Lajoie, of Rockledge, Fla., Robert and wife Florence Lajoie of Winter Harbor, Fla.,, and Bertrand and wife Joan Lajoie of Wayne, N.J.; eight grandchildren, Travis and Cameron Labonte, Sarah, Jeanine and Hillary Casavant, Dylan Labonte, and Nina and Brady Pleau;, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a sister, Dorothy Lajoie; sister-in-law, Jeannette Lajoie; and brothers-in-law, Laurier St. Onge, Claude Labonte and Romeo “Buddy” Moreau. The family would like to thank the staff of d’Youville Pavilion for the loving care they gave her over the past seven years, and a special thanks to her caregivers, Crystal and Claire, from Beacon Hospice.