1926 – 2015

LEWISTON — Cecile R. Verreault, 88, died Saturday, March 14, after a short illness.

She was born in Lewiston on Dec. 9, 1926, the daughter of Ernest and Arsilia (Binette) Rodrigue. She was one of eight siblings who grew up in Lewiston and attended Holy Cross School.

She worked at Continental Mill until her marriage to Robert “Bob” L. Verreault on May 3, 1952.

Cecile always wanted to be a mother, and after ten years of marriage, she and Bob finally had a daughter, Lisa, and fifteen months later, another daughter, Mona. Cecile happily spent her days as a homemaker and mother, taking care of her daughters and everything else on the home front so that Bob could focus his energies on growing his business, Diamond Machine Company.

When the girls were young, the family would spend part of each winter in Florida. Once they grew up, Cecile learned how to play golf, and she and Bob began spending every winter in Florida golfing, going out to dinner and delighting in life as snowbirds. In the summer, they golfed at Martindale, relaxed at their cottage on No Name Pond and delighted in life as Mainers. They also traveled extensively across the U.S. and abroad.

Cecile especially enjoyed the time she spent at her home. She was an antiquer and decorator, a wonderful needle worker and an accomplished seamstress who made many stylish outfits for her daughters as they were growing up. Whenever the weather permitted (and even sometimes when it didn’t), she would be outside doing yard work or puttering among her flowers and vegetables. Never one to sit down for long, she could usually be found in the kitchen trying new recipes and sharing them with her friends and family. She loved animals, always had a pet cat to dote on, and would feed any creature that ventured into her yard. In her later years, she found a great deal of pleasure sitting on her porch in the sun, watching the birds and chatting with her neighbors.

Besides her two daughters, she is survived by her two sons-in-law, Terry Ricker and Steve Cocciardi, both of whom she loved with all her heart. Her pride and joy were her four grandchildren, Samantha and Shawn Ricker and Joey and Tommy Cocciardi. Memere was the best babysitter and maker of yummy treats.

Cecile is also survived by a sister, Annette Falasco of New York; many nieces and nephews, including her special nephew, Bobbie Rodrigue and his wife, Sheila; and her close friends, Pat Zebley, Maggie Parker and Dolly Long.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 59 years, Robert; and by two sisters and four brothers.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.