1933 – 2016

KENNEBUNK — Joanne DeBlois Lapointe, formerly of Auburn, died at the age of 83 in Kennebunk on Wednesday, Sept 21.

Born on June 21, 1933, she was predeceased by her parents Joseph T. and Emelia Dumas DeBlois and her late husband of 42 years Norman Joseph Lapointe.

Joanne grew up in Winthrop and graduated from Mount Merici Academy in Waterville,  in 1952. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, Burlington, Vt., and furthered her education at the University of Massachusetts and University of Maine at Orono.

She taught humanities and English at various Massachusetts and Maine high schools including St. Dominic’s Regional High School formerly located in Lewiston. In 1973, she was appointed the Dean of Students at Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute in Auburn. She was proud to be the first female Dean of Students in a Technical College in the State of Maine. She enjoyed writing and often contributed articles about travel, politics and community issues to the Lewiston Sun-Journal.

Along with her husband, she was instrumental in founding Le Centre d’Heritage (which became the Franco American Center at the University of Maine-Lewiston Campus.) She later served several years as a Representative in the Maine House of Representatives. She was a staunch advocate for her constituents in the Auburn district and was also very involved in the Democratic party.

Upon retirement, Joanne and her husband Norman spent their time between Bradenton, Fla., and Old Orchard Beach. They both loved to travel, especially to France and the Province of Quebec, because of their love of the French culture. She was an avid reader, loved spending time with friends and had a special place in her heart for the ocean.

She is survived by her sister, Deanna Allarie of Augusta; her children and their families, Katherine Lapointe Cmaylo and her husband, Mark, of Kennebunkport, Patricia Lapointe Frisch and her husband, Roger, of Wilton, Conn., Bryan Gordon and his wife, Jennifer, of Kennebunkport, and Lise Lapointe-Murer and her husband, Louis, of Williamsburg, Va. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Michele Cmaylo Kimble , Jessie Cmaylo, Jess Frisch, Patrick Gordon, Erin Gordon, Mackenzie Gordon, Delaney Gordon and Evan Murer; her great-grandchildren, Benicio, Wesley, Darwin, Nigel, Simon, Arya and Zoie; her sister-in-law, Jackie Hodgkins of St. Petersburg, Fla.; brother-in-law, Kenneth Lapointe of Chelsea; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful staff at Huntington Common, Beacon Hospice, Home Instead and her personal physician of many years Dr. Sarah Subak-Krah, who provided such compassionate care to Joanne in her later life. The family is grateful to the many people who enriched Joanne’s life and appreciated her unique sense of humor.

Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.