LEWISTON – Claire (Mercier) Blais, 90, who lived in Lewiston both in her youth, and later in retirement, passed away on Sept. 7, 2022, in Kingsland, Georgia.

She was born in Hinesburg, Vermont, Aug. 5, 1932, and was the only child of Arthur and Delores (LeBerge) Mercier. Her family moved to Lewiston when she was a child. She attended local schools, and was a parishioner at St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s.

On June 20, 1951, she married her childhood sweetheart, F. Vincent Blais of Lewiston, in Michigan while Vincent was serving in the United States Navy. During their sixty-three years of marriage, Vincent and Claire lived in Maine, Massachusetts, and California. Claire will be remembered for her selflessness toward others, her faith in God, her work ethic, and as a loving and caring mother to four sons. She spent many years providing companionship and spiritual care for her mother, Delores, and also Vincent’s mother, Carmen (Jean), during long-term care at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion. Claire was an excellent chef, and was well-known both for her traditional French-Canadian meals, as well as for the authentic Mexican food she learned to cook while living in Southern California. She was instrumental along with Vincent in the establishment of one of Maine’s first Mexican restaurants in the late 1970s. The El Taco Tico was an icon at the corner of Park and Main streets in Rockland for many years, during which Claire served as the head chef.

Claire was preceded in death by Vincent in 2016, and by her eldest son, Michael, in 2020. She is survived by Michael’s wife Kathleen of Thomaston, Bradford Blais and his wife Debora of California, Kenneth Blais and his wife Nancy of Florida, and Dennis Blais and his wife Heather of Georgia; eight grandchildren; three great grandsons; and many nieces and nephews. Claire also had a very close relationship with Vincent’s daughter, Moira, who with her husband Jim lives in California.

Special appreciation for Claire’s care later in life goes to Michael and his wife Kathleen, after Claire moved to Rockland following Vincent’s passing; and later to Dennis and his wife Heather, who brought Claire into their home in Saint Marys, Georgia, and then continued long-term support after she entered assisted living in near-by Kingsland. In addition to her children, and many friends and acquaintances, Claire was beloved by Vincent’s brothers, Richard Blais of California, Barney Blais and his wife JoAnn of Colorado, Daniel Blais and his wife Kathy of Texas, and their families.

A Memorial Mass honoring Claire’s life will be celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul (Lower Church). Committal services will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. There will not be a visitation ceremony. Arrangements by the Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, Lewiston 784-4023.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

at http://www.alzfdn.org

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