Patricia A. Potvin

AUBURN – Patricia A. Potvin of Auburn passed away peacefully at her home on May 27, 2024, with family at her side. She was born in Altoona, Pa., the daughter of Thomas and Martha (Shaw) Dillion on June 25, 1933, the eldest of 6 siblings. She attended local schools and graduated from Camp Lejeune High School in North Carolina.

She met and married Richard J. Potvin Jr. in 1953 and together they raised their family of five. They lived in Brockton, Mass. and in 1969 moved the family to West Auburn, Maine where they settled on the shores of Lake Auburn.

Patricia so enjoyed the arrival of spring, watching her perennials bloom and hanging multiple flower baskets on the deck overlooking the lake. The walkway and porch flowers greeted visiting family. Her bird feeders were always full, attracting songbirds that gave her so much joy. Patricia knew the names of birds returning each spring and annotated new bird sightings in her ever-present copy of “A Field Guide to Birds”.

For over 40 years, winters were spent at her and Richard’s ocean front condo in Surfside, Fla. She loved to collect shells from the beach, filling clear containers throughout the condo. Most days would find Patricia playing Scrabble with girlfriends at her beach cabana. She knew the Scrabble rules!

Patricia enjoyed cooking, especially for her family. On cool fall days in Maine, visitors would find a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove top. She would prepare her secret meat stuffing recipe with the required Jimmy Dean sausage for Thanksgiving and bake ginger snaps and almond wedding cookies for Christmas. Her green bean casserole was present for all occasions, the recipe now passed down to her children and grandchildren. Those children, grandchildren and the great grandchildren who affectionately called her Ni, were first and foremost to Patricia with treasured visits, birthdays remembered, the refrigerator being a collage of family pictures. She will be so missed.

Patricia is survived by her son Richard J. Potvin III (Joyce Banville) and his children Elizabeth Potvin, Lauren (Abram) Frangoulis, and Michael Potvin; daughter Jeanne Levasseur and her children Andre (Melanie Maynard) Levasseur, Amy (Richard) Cercone; daughter Catherine (James) Bouquet and their children Curtis (Nancy) Bateman, Nicholas (Allie) Bouquet; daughter Patricia (Rene) Dupont, their children Emily (Emile) Doucette, Alison Dupont, Sarah Dupont; 20 great grandchildren; and brother Terrence Dillon and sister Mary Margaret Dawson.

Patricia was predeceased by husband Richard, son Michael Potvin and siblings Bob, Martha, and Kathy.

The family would like to thank the home health nurses from Andwell Health Partners for assisting Mom in passing at home, her final wish. And a special thank you to Brenda for her dedicated, compassionate companionship to Mom.

The family invites you to a time of visitation on June 3 from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m., immediately followed by A Liturgy of the Word at 12:30 p.m. at The Fortin Group Auburn, 217 Turner St., Auburn. A private family committal service will be held at St. Peters Cemetery in Lewiston.

You may offer your condolences or share your memories at http://www.thefortingroupauburn.com