1923 – 2013

TURNER — Ledowiska “Mike” Bussiere, 90, of Lewiston, passed away Saturday morning, Aug. 10, at her daughter, Diane’s, home in Turner, after a three-year battle with cancer.

She was born in St. Justine, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 20, 1923, daughter of the late Zepherin and Merilda Lamontagne Chabot.

She was a retired employee of Bates Manufacturing Co., where she was employed as a spinner for 37 years. More recently, she was very proud of being publicly recognized and celebrated by Central Maine Medical Center for more than 6,000 hours of volunteer services there.

After getting her high school GED at 65, she did a TV commercial urging seniors to apply for their GED no matter what age they are and became recognized locally as the “GED Lady.”

She was a very creative person who enjoyed quilting and creating other sewn crafts that she generously shared with friends and relatives, and frequently donated to the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing at Central Maine Medical Center.

Survivors include one son, Maurice “Buzz” Bussiere and his companion, Christine Acker, of North Fort Myers, Fla.; four daughters, Mrs. Maurice (Aline) Nadeau of Lewiston, Mrs. Leo (Irene) Harrison of West St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. Jacques (Diane) Pratte of Turner and Mrs. Richard (Susan) Cote of Auburn; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Angelo “Chuck” Bussiere; her parents, Zepherin and Merilda Chabot; a sister, Merilda “Blanche” Lambert; and two brothers, Philippe and Roland Chabot.

You are invited to share your condolences with the Bussiere family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.