Madeleine C. Roy

AUBURN – Peacefully and surrounded by family, our mom, Madeleine C. Roy, passed away on June 7, 2024, at the age of 92. She was born as an identical twin on Feb. 20, 1932, to Cyrille J. and Aurore M. Lessard Pare. She went to grammar school at Holy Cross School and graduated from St. Dominic’s High School in 1950. While there, she was a member of the Notre Dame Guild, the choir, the Children of Mary Solidarity among other activities. In her teen years she worked at Maine Baking, Kresge’s, Bedard Pharmacy and was one of the first employees to work on the opening day at Dairy Joy which was established by her uncle.

On Oct. 31, 1953, she married Eugene R. Roy. They began a family and within a few years built their home where mom levied until her passing. Together, they had nine children as she always wanted a large family just like the one from which she came. She relished her role as a full-time mom. As a mother she was afforded the opportunity to show off her organizational and time management skills. She loved her role as a caregiver, nurse, counselor, cook, tailor, gardener, forager, and bestowed a deep appreciation of all things in nature. Her ability to stretch a budget and meals could challenge Jesus’ ability to multiply loaves and fishes. She was a woman of great integrity and led by example, passing on to those around her values of kindness, compassion, generosity of time and spirit, grit and determination.

In 1982 she returned to the workforce. She became very involved with Holy Cross Parish and served in many capacities including the Christian family movement, taught CCD at the high school level, served on the school board, the parish council, the social justice committee and ran the hot lunch program for several years. She was also on the board of directors for the SEARCH program. She also created a visitation program for the parish’s elderly shut-ins and those in local nursing homes. She served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and was employed at Holy Cross rectory for several years. She later worked at the Augusta State House as a senate stenographer, and the law legislative library which was a position she found extremely enriching and life changing. She went on to be the assistant librarian at Lewiston-Auburn College, which led to her position as the archivist of the Franco-American Collection. A serious accident forced her retirement at the age of 72.

Some of mom’s greatest loves were her children and grandchildren, the ocean, good books, walks in nature, gardening, photography, archiving the family history and genealogy, her trips to Europe and the Holy land as well as frequenting her brothers camps in Millinocket and Belgrade, Maine. She also loved family get-togethers, good food, humor, and light, heavy, and spiritual conversations.

She is survived by her sister Marguerite, her brother Andre and his wife Mariette, her sons and their partners, Francis and Darlene, Dominic and Juanita, Timothy and Laurie, Greg, and John and Sarah, as well as her grandchildren, Benjamin, Christopher, Isaac, Justin, Joshua, Nicole, Kacey, Matthew, Cody, Samuel, Jack and Louise, and additionally, her great-grandchildren, Zerrick, Gabriel, Sharon, Zane, and Kai, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her infant identical twin sister, her sisters, Pat, Lucille and Louise, her brothers, Cyrille Jr, Clifford, Marcel, Louis, the Rev. Paul Pare and Jean-Thomas. She was also predeceased by her sons, David, Michael, Daniel and only daughter Marie with whom she shared an inseparable bond. She was also predeceased by her daughter-in-law and Greg’s wife Marsha and her grandson Adam.

Online condolences and fond memories of Madeleine may be shared at http://www.albert-burpee.com.

Visitation will be held at the Albert & Burpee Funeral Home on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 2-4 p.m., with a Celebration of Life to follow at 4 p.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Albert & Burpee Funeral Home & Cremation Services 253 Pine St. Lewiston, 782-7201.