AUBURN – It is with great sadness that the children of Lauretta Duprez announce the passing of their beloved mother on Thursday, June 24, 2021.

Lauretta Pinette Duprez was born on May 6, 1921 in Lewiston. She was the daughter of Napoleon and Marie Anne Ouellette Pinette, she graduated high school from the Ave Maria Academy in the class of 1939. She was also a graduate of the Acme Business College.

Lauretta married Raymond R. Duprez, the love of her life, on Dec. 27, 1941 at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church. He was drafted into the army and was sent to Macon, Ga. where their first child was born. After the war, they returned to Maine and joined the family business at Pinette’s Funeral Home. In the late 1950s, Raymond and Lauretta bought into Fortin Funeral Home and became part owners. Laurette was often asked to coif the deceased females at five different funeral homes and did so for many years.

Ray and Lauretta were blessed with four daughters and made their home at 2 Lord St. in Lewiston. They lived there together until his death in 1985. Lauretta resided there until the age of 97.

Family was her priority and she devoted many years to raising her children and caring for various family members who needed support and care. She was loving, giving, had a heart of gold and was faithful to her Catholic religion. Her home was always open to anyone who needed prayers and encouragement. Lauretta had a beautiful voice and on occasion was asked to sing on stage. The beauty of her singing voice was enjoyed by her family at gatherings.

She was ardently involved in politics. She had a hotline to D.C. and constantly wrote to the President and Congress regarding worldly concerns and needed changes. She received special Presidential awards for her concerns for our country. She was invited to numerous Presidential Dinners in Washington, D.C. for all of her political involvement.

She was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish at Holy Family Church, the Ladies of Ste. Anne’s Sodality, the Patronesses and was president of Les Anciens de L’Ave Maria.

She is survived by her four daughters, Claire Robichaud (Conrad Violette) of Auburn, Connie Beliveau of Poland, Claudette and her husband Marcel Rodrigue of Lewiston and Pauline and her husband Maurice Fontaine of Lewiston; her 10 grandchildren include Randall (Karen) Robichaud, Jeffrey (Kelley) Raymond, Russell (Libby) Rodrigue, Rodney Robichaud, Marcy (Scott) Kenison, Misha (Ed) Coolbaugh, Morey (Tracy) Fontaine, Aaron Fontaine (Julie Johnson), Allison (Jared) Rasmussen and Amanda Moore (Eric Carrier). She was the proud great-grandmother to 17; and great-great-grandmother to four. She also had many nieces and nephews that meant the world to her.

We are so grateful for the wonderful care given by the staff at Clover Healthcare over the past three years.

Online condolences at http://www.thefortingrouplewiston.com.

Visitation, Fortin/Lewiston June 29, Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated June 30, Wednesday, at 1 p.m. at upper church of The Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 123 Ash St., Lewiston, followed by burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery. A service of the Fortin Funeral Directors, 70 Horton St., Lewiston, ME 04240, 207-784-4584.