AUBURN — Fernande Rodrigue, 102, died at Bolster Heights Residential Care Facility on Jan. 9.

She was born Sept. 14, 1908. in Mapleton, Canada, the daughter of Joseph and Zelire (Vachon) Lacasse. Her family moved to Lewiston when she was 3 years old and she was educated in a one-room schoolhouse on River Road in Lewiston.

In 1922, she went to work at a local shoe factory. In 1927, she married Paul (Pete) Rodrigue; together they raised three sons, Fernand, Roger and Robert. She continued to work in various local shoe factories along with doing sewing at nights and weekends for local people until she was in her 90s. In 1945, she and her husband purchased a restaurant on Lisbon Street called the Grand Cafe, which they ran until the mid 1960s.

She then went to work as a seamstress at Morin’s Bridal World along with continuing to work at the shoe factory until she retired. In 1945, they built a camp on Sabattus Lake, where she and her family enjoyed many summers. In 1952, they purchased a home on Sabattus Street, where she lived until 1999. She then moved to the Great Falls Esplanade in Auburn.

In 2006, she moved to Bolster Heights Residential Care Facility. Throughout her years, she enjoyed a constant company of friends and family. She enjoyed playing cards, doing many arts and crafts, and crocheting. She made an afghan for each member of her family and many of her friends. She was a member of Holy family Church and Dames de Ste. Anne. On her 95th birthday, she was awarded the Legislative Sentiment by the 121st State Legislature.

She is survived by her three sons, Fernand “Fern” Rodrigue and his companion, Diantha Sargent, and his children, Paul Rodrigue and Doris Martineau and husband, Roger and their son, Christopher, Roger Rodrigue and wife, Edwina and their children, Darlene Roy and husband, William “Bill” and their children, Tamara Marcella and husband, Jean, and James Roy, Brenda Russell and her children, Kim and David Saldona and Scott and Tina Russell, Robert “Bob” and Pauline Rodrigue and their children, Patricia Rodrigue and her husband, Warren Evans, Rachel and James Nadeau and Geoffrey Rodrigue; many great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Anita Baribault and Jeanne D’Arc Biron; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1975; daughter-in-law, Alma Rodrigue; three brothers, Evangelist Lacasse, Armand Lacasse and Gerard “Jim” Lacasse; and five sisters, Emmilienne Labbe, Flora Laliberte, Eva Lacasse, Cecile Paraskevakos and Lucienne Marchand.

The family wishes to thank the Bolster Heights staff for their professional and super loving care that our mother received.

Online condolences may be shared at www.dostiefuneralhome.com.

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