LEWISTON — Delia “Dee” Marie Willette Beaulieu, 90, passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, following a long illness.

She was born in Brunswick on July 25, 1921, as the third child to Dennis and Della Willette. She was a lifelong resident of Lewiston.

She married the late Robert “Bob” Beaulieu on May 9, 1941. While raising a family, she worked in the shoe industry in the ’50s and ’60s and later for her brother, George, in his local pizza shop, Georgio’s. Eventually she retired to her home on College Street in Lewiston, until, in failing health, she moved to d’Youville Pavilion.

Delia was an incredibly generous lady who spent a great deal of her time creating and making gifts for family members, friends and neighbors, and her grandchildren. She was willing to share just about anything she owned and received the greatest pleasure in realizing she had contributed to the happiness and well-being of another.

Although proximity allowed the local grandchildren to visit more often, Delia missed and cherished her extended family in Texas and became a master at balancing her love and affection in all geographic directions. She took great pride in all her grandchildren and with each of them formed an equally loving but intimately different relationship.

She sought very little in return, instead enjoying the simple pleasures of her creative crafting skills and the company of her family and pets. She leaves behind Muffin, the last in a long line of dogs that her husband, Bob, selected for her before he passed.

Delia was an avid reader, often reading several romance novels in a night. Her husband would visit the Lewiston Public Library on a weekly basis and fill a grocery bag full of books just for her. In fact, if you visit the library you may find many of theses books initialized with a capital “D” as a reminder to Bob not to bring these books home again.

Thankfully, up until days before she passed, Delia was able to enjoy the company of her friends, family and her pet, Muffin, and, even at the worst of times, managed to give you her loving smile.

She is survived by her three children, Roger and wife, Susan, of Texas, Michael and wife, Paula, of Auburn, and Donna and husband, Nate Hathorne, of Minot; four sisters, Lucille of Lisbon Falls, Patricia of Winslow, Sandra of Lewiston and Sheila of New York; three brothers, George of Lewiston, William of Wales and Michael of Sabattus; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

She will be truly missed.