Dolores M. Preo

AUBURN – Dolores “Del” Preo, 97, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2022. She was the daughter of Alphonse and Mabel (Fournier) Biron and Yvette (Dumais) Biron born on May 6, 1925 and raised in Lewiston, Maine, with her 11 siblings. On Jan. 22, 1945, she married the love of her life Ralph Preo, her husband of 43 years. “Del”, as she was better known, was happiest when spending time with her friends and extended family.

Del had an “electric” personality that lit up a room. She was always complimentary to others and took immense pride in her appearance always receiving praise from others stating how she appeared much younger than her years.

Del had an angelic singing voice and enjoyed entertaining in her earlier years with local bands and family gatherings. She loved baking, camping, holidays, telling stories, playing bingo and televised daily mass. Each evening she had a “nip” of brandy which she attributed to her long and healthy life.

She previously worked at Federal and Falcon shoe but secured her dream job as a house mother for many years to countless Bates College students whom she adopted as “her own” until her retirement.

She is survived by her siblings Pauline Bosse, Donald Biron and wife Claire, sister in-law Josephine Biron, sister-in-law Gloria Biron and several nieces and nephews. Del was predeceased by her husband and parents, brothers Paul, Roger, Jerry, Normand, Richard, Robert and Roland “Lou” and sisters Joanne Janelle, Claudette Gervais, fiancée Joseph St. Hilaire, and many in-laws.

We would like to offer a special thank you to the caring staff at Clover Health Care and Androscoggin Home Health.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston, 1080 Lisbon St. on November 18, at 11 a.m., with committal prayers to follow at St. Peters Mausoleum in Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the

Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice.