AUBURN — Regina A. Bellefleur, 90, of 12 Davis Ave., Auburn, passed on Nov. 25 while being cared for by her loving nieces and the caring staff of Hospice House.

Born on Aug. 25, 1921, in St. Leonard, New Brunswick, Canada, she was the youngest daughter of the late Alphonse and Alice Bouchard Bellefleur. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish.

She came to Lewiston as a teenager with her mother and three younger brothers. During World War II she worked at Bath Iron Works building warships for the Navy. When the men returned after the war she was not pleased to have to give up her job to them. She then worked at the Pepperell Mill until it closed in 1968. She and her sister, Blanche, took the closing as an opportunity to own and operate Anita’s Diner on Lisbon Street. After a few years of working 16-hour days they sold the restaurant and she went to work at Arrow Hart until her retirement.

Regina was a hard worker who had many talents. She was not afraid to tackle any job, whether it was painting, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, canning, gardening, landscaping, cake decorating, knitting, sewing, quilting, clock repairs or just fixing things.

For 36 years she shared ownership of a two-apartment house on Court Street with her brother-in-law and sister, Anita Ouellette, who survives her. She was a very special aunt to their four children who grew up with their ‘Matante’ downstairs. They are Marie Adams of Hanahan, S.C., Charlene Lacasse of Lewiston and Jacqueline Strong and Roger Ouellette of Auburn. She is also survived by her nephew, Roland Bellefleur Jr. of Bowdoin; nieces Beatrice Brown of Lisbon and Helen White of Mechanic Falls; several nieces and nephews in Canada and northern Maine; and many great-nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by eight brothers and four sisters.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Hospice House in Auburn for the wonderful care they gave to Regina during her final days of life.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.