1914 – 2015

AUBURN — Marguerite C. Blais, 100, of Lewiston, passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Hospice House of natural causes with her loving family by her side.

Marguerite was born in Auburn on Sept. 4, 1914. She was the youngest child of Jedeon and Eugenie (Bergeron) Chouinard. She grew up in Auburn and attended St. Louis Catholic School.

On June 24, 1939, she married Julien A. Blais, the love of her life, in Lewiston at Saints Peter and Paul Church. They resided in Lewiston all of their married lives, where they lovingly raised four children.

As the children grew up, she worked out of her home, hand-sewing moccasins, and she later worked as a hand folder at Shapiro Brothers’ Shoe Shop in Auburn.

She regularly attended Saints Peter and Paul Church, and was a member of “Les Dames de St. Anne.”

She and her husband were very musically gifted and were very well-known in the community. Julien had his own radio spot at WCOU where he sang and played the piano. She would regularly join him, and they would grace their radio audience with their beautiful voices and talent. In the mid-1940s, they decided to record their own records at radio stations WCOU and WLAM. These records are now keepsakes that the family will treasure forever.

Marguerite was a special person. She was a pious lady of courage with an undying will to live. One would always feel so comfortable in her presence. She was always so happy to see and greet you with that radiant smile and kind words. The community has lost a great, loving and unique person. She will be sadly missed.

She is survived by a daughter, Claire Blais of Lewiston; three sons, Armand and wife, Susan (Dennis), of Lewiston, Gerard and wife, Denise (Thibodeau), of Monmouth and Paul and wife, Suzanne (Cloutier), of Litchfield; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey, Gregory, Nathan, Adam, Brandon, Gerard Jr., Kimberly, Nicholas and Christopher; and five great-grandchildren, Anna Jane, Elise, Bria, Joshua and Ezekiel.

We are very thankful for the compassionate care provided by all caregivers including her daughter, Androscoggin Hospice Care, the Hospice House and Friends Alternative Care.