1943 – 2016

FARMOUTH — The Very Reverend Father Paul Alphonse Plante died peacefully at the rectory of the Parish of the Holy Eucharist in Falmouth on Thursday, June 30.

Fr. Plante was born in Sanford on May 29, 1943, the son of Ovila Plante and Corinne (Lehouillier) Plante. He grew up in Sanford attending St. Ignatius Elementary and Junior High School taught by the Ursuline Nuns and the Brothers of Christian Instruction. High school and two years of college followed at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He then became a seminarian for the Diocese of Portland. He graduated from the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. After one year of theology at the Grand Séminaire in Montreal, he transferred to St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, earning a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology, followed by a licentiate in sacred theology. He was ordained a deacon on June 7, 1967, by Archbishop Peter L. Gerety at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. As a deacon, he served at St. Joseph Parish in Old Town (1968-1971). He was then ordained to the priesthood on May 8, 1971, by Archbishop Gerety at St. Ignatius Church in Sanford. As a priest, he served as Chaplain of the Portland hospitals (1971), and exclusively in Maine parishes: parochial vicar at St. Louis Church, Auburn (1971-1975), St. Joseph Church, Biddeford (1975-1976), Holy Cross, Lewiston (1976-1985), parochial vicar as well as rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1985-1993), pastor of St. John Church, Winslow (1993-2004), and pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Oquossoc (2004-2016). In 2009, he was assigned as Vicar for Priests by Bishop Richard J. Malone, a ministry he continued under Bishop Robert P. Deeley, while remaining pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes, Oquossoc.

He pursued a second vocation in the arts by obtaining his bachelor’s degree in fine arts in painting, with honors, in 1987 at the Maine College of Arts. He was privileged to have several solo exhibits of his work with venues at the Center for Maine Contemporary Arts, the Farnsworth Museum, the Colby College Museum, the George Ohr Museum in Biloxi, Miss., as well as having participated in group shows at the Portland Museum of Art, the Katonah Museum, among others. Over the years, several galleries represented his work including Mixed Greens in New York City, the Nielsen Gallery in Boston, the Richard Heller Gallery in Santa Monica, Calif., the Caldbeck in Rockland, Gleason Fine Arts, the Bayview Gallery in Brunswick, Mast Cove in Kennebunkport, June Fitzpatrick, Susan Maasch, and more recently, the Art House Designs in Olympia, Wash.

He is survived by his two sisters, Beatrice (Plante) Legere and Irene (Plante) Roberge; and one brother, Michel of Toronto, Canada. Also surviving is one brother-in-law, Robert Legere, nine nieces and nephews and their families, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and three stepbrothers.

He was predeceased by his parents, Ovila and Corinne Plante; his sister, Jacqueline Plante Ingvalson; his stepmother, Geralda (Gendreau) Plante; two brothers-in-law, Oliva Roberge and Roger Ingvalson.

Fr. Plante expressed special gratitude for the support of Bishop Robert Deeley, the brotherhood of the priests of the Diocese of Portland, deacons, religious priests, sisters and brothers, as well as innumerable parishioners whom he served during 45 years of priestly ministry. May all be blessed abundantly.

Fr. Plante seeks forgiveness from anyone he may have offended and sincerely asks you to pray for the forgiveness of his sins and for his eternal rest. The loved ones of Fr. Plante express special thanks for the many caregivers during his illness.

To view Fr. Plante’s memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com.