1926 – 2015

AUBURN — Lorraine G. Gelinas, 88, of Lewiston died late Monday evening, March 16, at the Hospice House with family at her side.

She was born in Lewiston on Nov. 8, 1926, a daughter of Joseph V. and Emilia (Therriault) Chenard. Lorraine was educated in local schools and graduated from Lewiston High School and remained a lifelong resident of this community.

On July 2, 1949, she married Francois “Frank” Gelinas and together they settled in Lewiston to raise their family. He predeceased her on Oct. 26, 1996.

Lorraine worked 55 years for the S.S. Kresge Co. until her retirement in 2000 at age 74. She spent many of those years as a bookkeeper in the offices, first working for Kresge for many years, then a number of years for McCrory’s Department Store. She ended her career as a part-time associate at K-Mart. Her first job with the company was playing the piano at the store so as to entice shoppers to also buy piano sheet music while they were shopping there.

Among her favorite enjoyments were playing beano and cribbage and crocheting. In fact, she crocheted many blankets and other items, even in recent years, for the Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing and even for the pets waiting to be adopted at the Androscoggin Humane Society. She also loved candy and always had some in her pocket ready to hand out.

For many, many years, she got together every Thursday with several friends from high school at the Sisters’ Convent in Sabattus for prayer, service and volunteering their time to the church. Years later, it continued to evolve into that weekly get-together with them, playing cards and socializing, which remained constant in their lifelong friendships.

Lorraine was a true lady of faith, attending weekly masses at Holy Cross Church. She was a very prayerful lady who prayed everyday for family and friends or anyone she knew who may be in need of a prayer on any given day. She was a loving, devoted and hardworking wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lydia Thorp, all her physicians, the staff at Central Maine Medical Center, d’Youville Pavilion, Clover Manor and Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for the care, comfort and support she received, as well as the chaplains for their spiritual support, and Shaw’s and Osco Pharmacy for their service, care and concern.

She leaves behind three daughters, Claire Strout and husband, Reginald, of Lewiston, Susan Bulger and husband, Robert, of Wayne, and

Cecile Doyon and life partner, Ron Houle, of Auburn; six grandchildren, Carrie Morrison and companion, Ray Martin, Becky Charniak and husband, Chris, Brian Doyon and wife, Deanna, Matthew Bulger, Nathan Strout and wife, Jessica, and Michelle Doyon and companion, Joel Marchand; four great-grandchildren, Samantha and Nicholas Hawk, Zoey Charniak and Landon Doyon, plus one soon to be born; a sister, Liane Therriault of Lewiston; many nieces and nephews; and four sisters-in-law, Sr. Blanche Gelinas of St. Hyacinthe, P.Q., Canada, Lucille Gelinas of Lewiston, Yvette Chenard of Lewiston and Pat Gelinas of Augusta.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Francois; three sons, Donald, Daniel and Paul; and four brothers, Rosaire, Gerard “Jack.” Raymond and Bro. Rene Chenard.

You are invited to view their video tribute and leave a message of condolence on the online guest book by visiting www.thefortingrouplewiston.com.

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