AUBURN — We love our mother as the trees love rain and the sun — she nourished us, mind, body and soul and inspired us to be the women we are today.

Suzanne Theresa Roy Guy, 83, formerly of Hazel Street, a resident of Odd Fellows’ and Rebekahs’ Home of Maine, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 9, following several years of battling Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born in St. Eloi, Canada, Feb. 29, 1928. As a Leap Year Day baby, she used to joke that she was always “young” because she actually only had “a real birthday every four years.” The fifth child born to Charles and Rose Roy, she attended elementary, secondary and business school in Canada. In 1947, she married Real Patrick Guy and moved with him to his home state of Maine. Although she lived there for more than 60 years, she never relinquished her Canadian citizenship.

Suzanne was primarily a homemaker, but worked at various times over the years. As a young bride, she worked at the Bates Mill in Lewiston alongside many other French Canadian women of her generation. In subsequent years, she tutored individuals who wanted to learn French, was employed at the former Dussault’s Pharmacy, Bedard Pharmacy and the former Ward Bros.

She had a happy childhood and often reminisced about her parents, siblings and friends. She regaled us all with her stories of skiing, skating parties and about the time, at age 17, when she was voted Carnival Queen. She was an accomplished pianist and was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice. While she truly enjoyed singing for family and friends, she loved to worship God through these gifts and did so for many years at various churches. Suzanne was also a talented artist who left our family several cherished watercolors and oil paintings.

As a mother who raised five daughters, she taught us to make each holiday truly festive and took pride in decorating our home for each season. These traditions have been enjoyed by each of us and passed on to our children. She was a seamstress who made some of our most memorable outfits — Halloween costumes, prom dresses and yes, those paisley bell bottoms! She was our “Mamma,” a “Grandma” and a “Great Grandma” who lives on in our hearts through her legacy of French Canadian recipes, the gift of hospitality, the appreciation for music and the arts and most importantly, her love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a member of Pathway Vineyard Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Coleen Daskoski and France Shea of Auburn and Polly Hill and her husband, Brian, of Bel Air, Md.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Christopher Shea, his wife, Bridget and their children, John, Joseph and Jenna of Auburn, Ryan Shea, his wife, Alexi and their children, Max and Cailin of Galena, Ohio, William Hill and his fiancee, Cassie Hubbard and Caitlin Hill of Bel-Air, Md., Joshua Cooper, his wife, Anna and their son, Joshua of Waterville and Emily Knox of Lewiston; her brother, Jean Claude Roy and sister, Doris Roy, of Quebec, Canada; a sister, Solange Hoenig of Santa Ana, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband; two daughters, Claudette Knox and Jessica Taylor; and two brothers, Roland and Avila Roy.

The family expresses heartfelt thanks to our sister, Coleen, her caretaker for several years and to the staff at Odd Fellows’ and Rebekahs’ Home of Maine for their loving and compassionate service to our mother.