LEWISTON – It is with heavy hearts that the family of Joanna (Gondek) Couture announces her passing on March 8, 2021. She died peacefully at Montello Commons under the compassionate care of their staff and Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice.

Joanna was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Czupryna) Gondek, originally of Poland, and the widow of Emilien L. Couture.

She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1942. She originally worked in the shoe and fabric industries in Auburn, and later as a clerk in the insurance business. When she had her third child, she took time off to raise her family. When her youngest children were able to care for themselves, she returned to work in retail for Reid and Hughes and at B & D discount store before she retired to enjoy her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom she was lovingly known as Babchi.

Joanna was a young widow, raising four children by herself. She will be remembered as a tiny woman with great strength. Joanna studied and performed dance in her youth and continued to enjoy dancing, well into her early 90s. She was known to be able to break into a tap dance or polka on a whim. She loved birds and flowers, gardening and walking. She also enjoyed cooking for her family. She was famous for her bread, pierogi, nalesniki, chrusciki, and many other traditional Polish dishes.

She is survived by her children, Janet Barriault and husband Dennis of West Poland, Cynthia Duggan and husband Thomas of Newfield, Deborah Couture and husband Joseph Porcaro of Gloucester, Mass., and daughter-in-law, Susan Violette of Kennebunkport; grandchildren, Andrea (Barriault) Gouldson and husband Sean of Westford, Mass., Michael Barriault and wife Meghan of Auburn, Renee Barriault and fiancée Adam West of Auburn, Sarah Violette Couture of Saco, Thomas Duggan of Kelly, Wyo., Emilie Duggan of Hallowell, Michael Porcaro and his wife Kelsey of Gloucester, Mass. and Johanna Couture-Porcaro of Gloucester, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Aiden and Brienne Gouldson, Joseph, Liam, and Maggie Barriault, and Makenna Mae Porcaro. Special mention of granddog, Bentley and grandkitty, Lizzy who kept her company and brought her comfort for months while she lived with her daughter in Newfield.

She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews; and grand-nieces and nephews; with special thanks to Irene Gondek of Lewiston and David Gondek of Auburn for always being of assistance and checking in on Aunt Joanna as needed. In addition, special thank you to David Gondek for preserving family memories in photographs and grandniece Jenn Lynn Gondek for visits and notes that brought great joy to Joanna.

In addition to her husband, Joanna was predeceased by her son, Stephen Couture; sister, Eleanor and her husband Michael Olehowski, brother, Henry Gondek and his wife Gisele; nephews, James and William Gondek, Marilyn Gondek (wife of nephew Richard).

The family would like to thank all the staff of St. Mary’s Medical Associates, Elite Home Care, First Light Home Care, Kindred at Home, Montello Heights, Montello Commons, Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice, and Dr. Nicole Boutaugh for their kind, compassionate, care in our mother’s last year.

Visitation will be held at the Albert and Burpee Funeral Home on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Services will be Saturday, 11 a.m., at Holy Family Church. Interment in the spring, Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Donations, condolences, and a video tribute may be found online at http://www.albert-burpee.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joanna’s memory to Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

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