Thelma M. Binette

LEWISTON – Thelma M. Binette, 79, of Lewiston passed away on August 23 with her loving family by her side at D’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston.

She was born May 10, 1944 in Lewiston, to Alphonse and Irene Pelletier. Her father was a Lumberjack and her mother made ploys for the lumber camp in Fort Kent, Maine where Thelma spent her early childhood. Her family later moved to Lewiston to work in the Mills. Thelma went to St. Mary’s School and, later, Lewiston High School. She married Lyndon Manson and had two daughters, Melanie and Tiffany.

A woman of faith with a heart of gold, Thelma was known and loved by many. You couldn’t go anywhere without her seeing someone she knew. She worked at a shoe shop and flower shop in her younger years and then State Farm Insurance later, but her passion was in sales. She was a top seller for Stanley Home Products as well as House of Lloyd where through her hard work, dedication, and home parties she earned trips to Hawaii, Holland, Spain, and Mexico.

Another passion of hers was music. She loved to dance and sing. She went to Spare Time Recreation and then later the American Legion for Karaoke. She sang at nursing homes, Lewiston’s Franco-American Festival, and with the late Nick Knowlton. People especially loved when she sang Patsy Cline songs and songs in French, which she did often as it was her first language. She enjoyed doing her singing telegrams using costumes, such as a bag lady and Daisy the clown.

Thelma loved having and going to garage sales. She spent many Fridays treasure hunting with her daughters and her late mother, Irene. She was very creative and would use many of her finds from flea markets and garage sales to make beautiful things or repurpose older things. She loved making jewelry through her business Bijou’s Creations as well as all types of crafts, including sewing and silk flower arrangements. Also, she enjoyed painting at her daughter, Melanie’s art studio. One of her favorite paintings depicted the cabin in the woods she grew up in.

She loved her husband, George, “Boo Boo” of the past nine years. She enjoyed camping with him and her stepdaughter Tina and her children at Beaver Brook. She was fond of eating lobster, going to the American Legion, going on rides to see the ocean and the leaves, as well as eating out with her husband. Thelma loved her family and friends, her book club group, and being an integral part of St. Matthews Church.

She leaves behind her loving husband George; her two beautiful daughters whom she was so very proud of, both of Lewiston, Tiffany Manson, and Melanie Therrien and her husband Glenn, who loved to cook for her; her chosen sister Arlene Couture and her husband Bob of Bowdoin; her chosen daughter Michelle Ouellette and her husband Rob of Greene; her stepdaughter Tina Binette of Lewiston; as well as her step-grandchildren Dylon Therrien, Savanna Poakkonen, Bret Binette, and her step-great-granddaughter Madilyn Moreau all of Lewiston, as well She was predeceased by her stepson Mark Binette of Lewiston.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Memorial Service and Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church located at 496 Lisbon Street in Lisbon. The Committal Ceremony for her burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston, Maine.

Please visit http://www.TheFortinGroupLewiston.com to sign Thelma’s guestbook and leave memories and condolences for the family.

Our beautiful beloved has earned her angel wings. Je t’aime beaucoup de tout mon cœur mama n’oublie jamais! You will always be in our hearts forever and ever!