AUBURN – Lauretta A. (Lachance) Demers, 98, of Lewiston, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024, after a very short admission due to a fall to the Androscoggin Hospice House. She was the wife of Normand R. Demers.

Lauretta was born in Charlesbourg, Canada on Feb. 13, 1926. She was the daughter of the late Paul E. and Laura A. (Nadeau) Lachance. The family moved to Lewiston when she and her sister Carmen where very young children. After years in the US, her brother, Laurier Lachance, was born, which brought great joy to both of his older sisters.

She would often tell happy stories of her childhood growing up on Cedar Street, with her best pal, Sister Cecelia Palange, and the good times she had with the “back alley gang”.  Her mother ran a boarding house and a luncheonette that fed the workers from the mills. Her father was a cook on the railroad, and through these life experiences, cooking and entertaining became her passion.

Lauretta welcomed everyone, she loved to feed them, often cooking for her large extended family for the holidays. Thanksgiving in particular was a favorite.  She also loved to open up her beloved camp, for fun times at the lake, toast on the wood stove, crepes, and macaroni. You would always be met at the door with her greeting, “welcome to camp rondialou”.

In later years, she and her husband traveled to many countries around the world as well as trekking across the country with friends Roger and Lorraine Blouin. Lauretta always said that her best trip with Normand, was driving from Lewiston, Maine to Alaska.

She is survived by her devoted husband Normand, and their three children. Ronald Demers of Otisfield and his children, Brad, Aly and Danielle, grandchildren, Brecken, Fallon, Cooper Rose and Rory; Diane Griffith and her husband William of Somersworth, NH and their children, Laura and Brian, grandchildren, Nia, Isabella and Ayla; Louise Lanois and her husband Micheal of Lewiston, and their children, Sarah, and Matthew, grandchildren, Ethan, Brenden, Averie and Cole. She also leaves behind her cherished nieces and nephews, many cousins and family friends.

Lauretta Antoinette Demers, missed with deep sadness, remembered with great joy.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 6 – 8 p.m. at The Fortin Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn, ME. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 1080 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. Committal prayers will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lewiston.

Please visit www.TheFortinGroupLewiston.com to sign Lauretta’s guestbook and leave memories and condolences for the family.

In lieu of flowers,

donations in her memory can be made to:

Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

alz.org/maine or to:

Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund

www.danafarber.jimmyfund.org

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