AUBURN — Virtue Provencher, 81, received her angel wings to Heaven at Clover Manor, June 1, after a long illness.

She was born Dec. 1, 1931, daughter of Everdene and Marshall Robinson in Hebron. On Sept. 6 1948, she first married her childhood sweetheart, Normand Provencher. They married again by the beach on a stormy night in Daytona, Fla., on Sept. 6, 2005. Normand predeceased her on Feb. 12, 2010.

When she was nine years old, Virtue traveled by train with her uncle, Wayne, to California to live with her Aunt Mary, while Wayne was in the military. She traveled throughout the country while with her aunt and uncle. She returned to Maine when she was 13.

Virtue held a variety of jobs. She was a stay-at-home mom to her six children, she worked in the shoe factory, at Bates Mill, at Clover Manor and at McDonald’s in Auburn and in Port Orange, Fla. Due to her health, she retired from McDonald’s, but always wanted to go back as she really cared about the people she met and the job.

She enjoyed knitting, sewing and most of all, sitting in the sun and walking the beaches of Florida. She was a super cook and everyone looked forward to going to her home for a meal.

While living in South Auburn, she was a member of the Mother’s Club and South Auburn Baptist Church. She later moved to New Auburn and attended Stevens Mill Church.

She and her husband began their winter trips to Florida more than 30 years ago, eventually moving to Florida permanently and summering in Maine.

She is survived by her six children and their spouses, James and Janne Provencher of Wilsons Mills, Jane Peach of Lisbon, Elaine and Donald Morrison of New Gloucester, David and Connie Provencher of Lewiston, Patricia and Victor Pray of Port Orange, Fla., and Kathy-Jo and John Lovely of Mechanic Falls; a brother, Conrad and Carol Robinson of Minot; a sister, Charlene and Sam Partee of Port Orange, Fla.; her sister-in-law, Florence Myers of Fort Myers, Fla.; her brother-in-law, Joseph Provencher of Sabattus; her 17 grandchildren, Marjorie, Tammy, Suzanne, Normand, Chad, Kelly, Betsey, Victor, Patricia, Nellie-Kim, David, Michael, John, Elizabeth, Arnold, Sherry and Lacy; her 28 great-grandchildren, Derek, Lyndsy, Candace, Michael, Hannah, Wyatt, Olivia, Amy, Brady, Nolan, Seth, Sarah, Autumn, Nicolas, Troy, Phoenix, Jacob, Kayla, Molly, Dylan, Alex, Emily, Katie, Lance, Alexis, Brenton, Brody and Bailey; her great-great-grandchildren, Addy and Ben; and in addition, she took Lisa Hilton into her heart as another daughter. 

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband; a grandson, Hugh John Hodgdon; and a great-grandson, Adam Baril.

Many thanks to the staff of Clare Place in Clover Manor and Androscoggin Hospice House for their untiring love, support and patience.