AUBURN – Claudette Martel, 84, passed away in her home on May 20, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Claudette was born in Lewiston on June 9, 1939, the youngest of six children, to Helene Bourassa Cloutier and Francois Paul Cloutier. She attended Lewiston Schools, graduating from St. Dominic High School in 1956 and went on to attend Bliss College. In later years, she attended the University of Maine at Augusta, Lewiston campus and earned her Associates Degree in Business Administration.

She met the love of her life, Gerald “Gerry” Martel during St. Dom’s graduation rehearsal. They were married on Nov. 22, 1958 in France, where Gerry was stationed in the army. They had their first child 11 months later and returned to the United States shortly thereafter. Claudette and Jerry went on to have four more children.

In addition to children and keeping house, Claudette would work from home hand-stitching shoes and typing for Hood’s Mailing. As the children got older, she began working outside of the home as the first Bookkeeper at Clover Manor Nursing Home when they opened their doors in 1974. Claudette went on to work as a Para-Professional Accountant at Robustelli, Rotz & Soucy, CPA firm until her retirement in 2000.

Claudette and her husband enjoyed travelling together, including two cross-country trips in their motor homes, many group travel tours including Elder Hostel/Road Scholar, have visited all 50 United States, China, Japan, Thailand and several European and middle-eastern countries. She also enjoyed getting together with lifelong high-school classmates, first for monthly luncheons with “the girls” and later, on a quarterly basis including the spouses.

She was predeceased by her parents and two brothers.

Claudette is survived by her husband, Gerry; children Diane (Tom) Henson of Auburn, Richard (Ann) Martel of Auburn, JoAnne (Jerry) Richert of Zebulon, NC, Louise (Vincent) Reed of Milbridge and Paul (Michelle) Martel of Windham, N.H.; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three older siblings.

A Visitation for Claudette will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Fortin Group Funeral Home in Auburn. A Mass of Christian Burial at St. Philip’s Church will occur Friday, May 24, 2024 at 11 a.m. followed by Committal Prayers at St. peter’s Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care of The Fortin Group Funeral Home | 217 Turner Street Auburn, ME 04210

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made to:

St. Dominic Academy

121 Gracelawn Rd.

Auburn, ME 04210 or:

Andwell Health Partners

(formerly Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice)

15 Strawberry Ave.

Lewiston, ME 04240



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