LEWISTON – Rita Irene Levesque, 72, of Morse Hill Road in West Paris, passed away April 28, peacefully in her sleep at Central Maine Medical Center after a brief illness.

She was born in Fort Kent, Nov. 30, 1936, a daughter of James and Verna (Voisine) Saucier. She worked for many years as a homemaker as she and her husband Josephat Levesque raised their family. She enjoyed life and loved to play beano, go camping and fishing and work in her flower gardens. Those who knew her knew she was a very loving and giving person. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed.

She leaves her husband of 53 years, Korean War hero, Josephat Levesque of West Paris; her daughter, Tina M. Hayes and husband, Scot, and grandsons, Orin and Kaleb of Bryant Pond; her son, Danny J. Levesque and wife, Martina, and granddaughter, Miranda of Norway; her sisters, Georgianna Saucier of Lewiston and Millie Cyr and boyfriend, Jack Downey, of Lewiston; her brothers, George Saucier and wife, Anita, of Lisbon, Richard Saucier and wife, Kim, of Lewiston, Nelson Saucier of Lewiston, Martin Saucier and wife, Carlene, of Lewiston and Donald Saucier and wife, Sheila, of Greene; and many neices, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was predeceased by two sons, Gary and Michael Levesque; her parents, Verna and James Saucier; and two brothers, James Saucier Jr. and Harold Saucier.