1919 – 2014

FARMINGDALE — Cecile M. Fortini, 95, of Captain Lewis Residence in Farmingdale, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, with her family by her side.

She was born in Durham on Aug. 26, 1919, a daughter of Louis and Damazille (Morin) Tardif Jr. She was educated in Durham schools.

She lived in Brunswick for many years, where she worked for the president of Bowdoin College and several professors. In later years, she also worked for Dr. Russell Pinfold as a veterinary assistant. While living in Brunswick, she was always available for house-sitting and companion-sitting for her many elderly friends

Cecile was an active volunteer in Brunswick. She was a member and past president of the Topsham Merry Meeters, 55 Plus, the Mid Coast Hospital Auxiliary, volunteer for Tedford House, president of the local American Kennel Club and a Girl Scout leader for 10 years.

Following her move to Lewiston, she volunteered at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and was very active at St. Mary’s Residence, where she lived for over 16 years. After a brief illness, she moved to Captain Lewis Residence to be closer to her daughter and continued to knit lap robes for nursing homes and blankets for the animal shelter, and she enjoyed doing crafts with the residents.

She loved to cook, play cards with her friends and crafts, heading several Christmas craft sales and making dollhouses at St. Mary’s Residence.

On May 3, 1941, she married Remildo “Ray” Fortini at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Lewiston; he predeceased her in 1990. She was also predeceased by her brother, Nelson, who died an infant and her two sisters, Louise Soucy and Marion Ingalls.

She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish at Sacred Heart Church in Auburn.

She is survived by her daughter, Ida and her husband, George Shaw, of Pitttston; granddaughters, Deborah Evans and husband, Gregory, of Ledyard, Conn., Lynda Jean and husband, Robert, of Oakdale, Conn., and Susan Terranova and husband, David, of Ashaway, R.I.; great-grandchildren, Kimberly Evans and Brandon Jean and Silvana Terranova; nieces, Theresa Samson of Lewiston, Bernadette Coulombe and husband, Alfred, of Saco, Barbara Brooks and husband, Robert, of Southwick, Mass., and Judy Clow of Agawam, Mass.; and several grandnieces and -nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey Brown at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, the Maine General Hospice Team and a very special thanks to Kimberly Dolly and the staff at Captain Lewis Residence for the wonderful care they gave Cecile.

To leave a message of condolence for the Fortini family, please visit www.brackettfuneralhome.com.