LEWISTON – On Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, John C. Wilson, loving husband and son, passed away at his home at the age of 33.

John was born on Feb. 22, 1985, in Weymouth, Mass., to Melinda Wilson (Prescott). He grew up in Bartlett, N.H., and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in communications from New England College in Henniker, N.H., in 2008. He met Collette “Coco” Mailhot on the first day of college, and they began dating soon afterward when he offered her the stars. Years later, they became engaged at sunset on Harbor Island, Maine, and married in Lewiston on Sept. 30, 2011. John and Coco were known to be one of the most happily married couples around.

John worked in the health insurance industry in various positions for the last 10 years and used that knowledge to help friends and strangers navigate the system. As a volunteer, he treasured his time in 2010-2014 working alongside Coco with the youth of Prince of Peace through the parish’s Life Teen ministry program.

John was almost always seen in one of his iconic Hawaiian shirts, cheerfully adding color to any scene. He was a lover of all kinds of games; video games, board games, mini wargames, tabletop and live-action roleplaying games and enjoyed building with Legos, models, and simulation video games. Both in real life and in fictional settings, he was an imaginative storyteller whose talent was involving everyone in a conversation or an interactive story. He had a great love of wordplay and could sling a great pun. While often cheerful and funny, John was a deeply thoughtful person and pondered much about life and the universe.

John was a beautiful man. He took easy delight in small things, was interested in so much, tried his best to be gentle, wanted to make everyone laugh, had a great sense of humor, brightened the universe, was endlessly creative, always wanted to help, and made friends wherever he went. Many have said he inspired them to be better people. He, his kindness, and his compassion will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife, Collette Wilson of Lewiston; his parents, Doug and Melinda Prescott of New Hampshire; his father and mother-in-law, Claude and Denise Mailhot; his brothers, Clay Wilson, and Matthew Prescott and his wife, Courtney, along with their daughter; his sister, Lindsay Wiswell and her husband, Doug. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Linette Mailhot and her partner Thomas Russell, as well as his paternal grandmother, Collette’s grandmother, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Condolences may be shared with John’s family at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday Jan. 26, 2019 at 11 a.m., at Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Ave., Lisbon Falls. Arrangements are under the care of The Fortin Group Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services, 70 Horton St., Lewiston.

Per the family’s request, charitable contributions in lieu of flowers in John’s memory are encouraged. They can be sent to:

The Good Shepherd

Food Bank,

P.O. Box 1807

Auburn, ME 04211


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