SACO — Merna D. Gaudin, 86, of Saco and formerly of Rumford, died peacefully on Thursday, May 25.

Born Merna A. Dorr in Mexico on July 25, 1930, she was the daughter of Charles and Calista Dorr. Merna grew up on her parents’ farm on Backkingdom Road in Mexico and graduated from Mexico High School in 1948. She married Francis H. Gaudin of Rumford in 1953 and they lived in Rumford together where they raised their family.

Merna worked as an executive secretary in the Oxford Paper Co. in Rumford from the late 1940s into the 1960s. When her last child was in college, she went back to work, this time working in admissions at the Rumford Hospital. She worked there from the 1980s through the mid 1990s.

Family was Merna’s focus and she showed it through the many loving ways she cared for them. She raised three children and devoted her life to them. Her children had a hot breakfast every morning before school. She typed term papers for her kids, as well as for their friends. She sat up late doing math flashcards. She and her husband grew a big, beautiful garden and she canned vegetables so her family had homegrown food all through the winter.

Merna also always had room at her table on every holiday so friends and neighbors wouldn’t be alone. She baked and welcomed her children’s friends into her home for many dinners and for after-school snacks.

While in Rumford, Merna was a member of the Rumford United Methodist Church. In her later years when she was living in Saco, she attended Union Church in Biddeford Pool.

In 2013, Merna moved to Saco to live with her daughter, Sharon Gaudin.

She is survived by her son, Dale C. Gaudin of Rumford; and her daughter, Sharon of Saco. She also is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Nelson; granddaughter, Jessica Lariviere Holcomb; her grandson, Kevin Lariviere; and her great-grandchildren, Luke and Katelyn Holcomb and Elisabeth and Emilia Lariviere.

She was predeceased by her brother, Howard Dorr; and her sister, Bernice Thomas. She also was predeceased by her son, Alfred (Fred) A. Gaudin; and her husband, Francis.

To view Merna’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com.

Merna D. Gaudin