LEWISTON – Emilienne Cloutier, 97, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 6, at d’Youville Pavilion.

She was born on Oct. 24, 1911, in Augusta, and was the second youngest of Alfred and Josephine Grenier’s 18 children. She attended St. Augustine School in Augusta, but after the death of her father, she stopped attending school at the age of 14 so that she could help her mother at home. By the age of 16, she was working at a local cotton mill and then at R.P. Hazzard Shoe Co. stitching ski boots.

In 1930, she met Alphonse (Bill) Cloutier from Lewiston and they were married on Nov. 20, 1932. Alphonse and Emilienne settled down in Lewiston. They had two sons, Alphonse Jr. (Junior) in 1933 and Roger Joseph in 1938.

While raising her two sons, she also worked for several different “shoe shops” in Lewiston and Auburn. She would work as a fancy stitcher for more than 30 years. In her free time, she enjoyed bowling with women from work and camping and fishing at Sebago Lake with her husband and sons.

In 1962, after several unsuccessful operations for complications due to cerebral palsy, Alphonse Jr. was placed at Marcotte Nursing Home. Alphonse and Emilienne were devoted parents who seldom missed a day visiting and caring for him. Even after the death of her husband, Bill, in 1986, she walked almost daily to the nursing home to see Junior, until his death in 1994.

She lost her other son, Roger, to cancer in 1998. Though life dealt her some terrible blows, her strong religious faith and her time spent with her daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren kept her going. Her physical health and her ability to endure challenging times never ceased to amaze those who knew her. She always put others before herself and would turn to God for her strength.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Jeannine L. Cloutier; four grandchildren, Debra Cloutier-Baggs, Michael Cloutier, Gary Cloutier and Kimberly Phinney; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Alphonse Cloutier; her two sons, Alphonse Cloutier Jr. and Roger J. Cloutier; and all of her siblings.