1929 – 2014

AUBURN — Jacqueline “Jackie” Normand O’Donnell, 84, died on Wednesday, March 19, a victim of Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Lewiston on May 18, 1929, she was the daughter of Charles Oscar Normand and Gertrude Randall Normand. Growing up in the East Avenue/Homefield Street area, she graduated from Lewiston High School in 1947. She worked at Twin City Printery, A.H. Benoit and Co., and Central Maine Power Co., in Lewiston.

While filling in at the CMP Norway office, she met John O’Donnell and they were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1954. Their first daughter, Margaret, was born in 1956, and soon after the family moved into their first home on Park Avenue in Auburn. Jack started his own business in 1961 as the family continued to grow, adding John, Michael and Lynn. Jackie now had two jobs — mother and bookkeeper — and she excelled at both. In 1966, they moved into a new house on Blackmere Street in Auburn.

As a charter member of St. Philip’s Church, Jackie was active in church affairs and in volunteering with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Little League and school affairs. A lifelong Girl Scout, Jackie served on the Board of Directors for the Kennebec Girl Scout Council for several years. She was also a longtime member of the YWCA Y-ette Club. Jackie started a small doll collection that became a major focus with more than 200 dolls, many featured in special events at the Woman’s Literary Union, where Jackie was also active for years.

Jackie enjoyed traveling; she made many trips with Jack, making new friends easily and expanding her Christmas card list. Her family grew to include two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren. Jackie lived her life with grace and confidence, taking events as they came, enjoying family get-togethers and taking pride in her skills: sewing, baking and gardening.

She is survived by her husband; her brother, Charles Normand and his wife, Bertha; her children, Margaret and husband, John Rasmussen, John III and wife, Christine, Michael and wife, Sonia, and Lynn and husband, Dan Kane; 10 grandchildren, Connor, Andrew, Brenna and Walter Rasmussen, Orion and Olivia O’Donnell, Evan O’Donnell and Keegan, Owen and Oliver Kane; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brothers, George and Frederick Normand.

The family appreciates the kindness of the caregivers at Bolster Residential Care and Beacon Hospice.