Donald A. Simoneau

AUBURN – Donald A. Simoneau, 71, of Fayette, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn. Donald was born in Farmington on May 5, 1952, to parents Bert and Doris (Ouellette) Simoneau.

Donald was a 1971 graduate of Livermore Falls High School, attended Southern Maine Vocational Tech and later returned to college at University of Maine Augusta for an Assoc. Degree in Computer Science in 1985.

He served in the US Army and US Army Reserve from 1972 – 1978. With his passion to support Veterans he became involved with the American Legion George Bunten Post 10 in Livermore Falls. As a member of the American Legion, he held many leadership positions at the post, state department and national committees. In these roles he worked on Veterans issues with state legislatures, governors and met with US Senators and Representatives. He worked on many veteran projects such as fundraising and organizing a rebuild of an 1897 WWI Cannon, WWII Plaque in Union Park, Avenue of Flags in Livermore Falls and Jay, and the Grave Flag Program in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery that places more than 15,000 flags annually. For more than 25 years he documented the burial places of veterans buried in nearby towns, which included 49 area cemeteries, and over 15,600 names.

Donald was an active Member of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Jay, Maine and Council 320, Knights of Columbus. On Sept, 29, 1973, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay, he married Roberta Beaulieu, together they made their home and raised their family in Fayette. He was actively involved with his children’s schools, bringing the first computers to Fayette Central School, serving on the school board, attending sporting events and as Roberta’s sous chef for many treats for classroom parties, ski meets and bake-sales. He was a proud grandfather to his grandchildren, enjoying time with them fishing from the dock, sitting around a campfire, and reading with them. Despite health limitations he was a sportsman who enjoyed fly-fishing and hunting and bought each grandchild’s first fishing pole. As a woodworker he made many gifts for family members, gavels for legislators and rolling pins for many wedding showers and fundraisers.

Donald was predeceased by his parents Bert and Doris Simoneau and mother and father-in-law Beverly and Robert Beaulieu.

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Roberta Simoneau; children, John Simoneau (wife Kimberly), David Simoneau (wife Pamela) and Ann Messer; grandchildren, Clorinda and Sarah Simoneau (John), Alex Beaulieu and Madison Simoneau (David), Jackson and Maya Messer (Ann); brothers Micheal, Patrick and Daniel Simoneau, their spouses and eight children, sister-in-law, Nancy Beaulieu Dalessandro, and brothers-in-law, George and Brian Beaulieu, their spouses and seven children.

“A veteran – whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve – is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America, for an amount up to, and including my life. That is honor, and there are way to many people in this country who no longer understand it.” Author unknown

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27, at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street, Jay, Maine. Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26 at FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. Members of the military organizations will meet at 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment in the spring at Holy Cross Cemetery, 445 Park Street, Livermore Falls, Maine.

Friends and family are invited to share memories with the family at: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

If desired, contributions may be made to:

Food Pantry, Jay,

Livermore and

Livermore Falls

PO Box 314

Livermore Falls, ME 04254