LEWISTON – Muriel J. Bechard, 83, of 26 Bolster St., Auburn, died Saturday, Dec. 20, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center after a short illness.

She was born in Augusta, on July 2, 1925, the daughter of Ronaldo and Adelia (Lapointe) Bertrand Sr. She grew in Lewiston and attended St. Mary’s School.

She loved being around children, so she worked as a bus driver in Wales for several years and a school crossing guard in Lewiston for many years.

She married Rosaire Bechard in September 1989. He died in 2005.

She is survived by her daughter, Charlene Cloutier of Monmouth; her sons, Lawrence Lessard and his wife, Carol, of South Paris, Steven Lessard and his wife, Wanda, of Manchester, N.H., Brian Lessard of Monmouth and Craig Lessard; her sisters, Dorothy Violet of Augusta, Marie Berry of Lewiston, Joan Caron and her husband, Bert, of Lewiston and Mary Ann Marston of New Hampshire; her brother, Ronaldo Bertrand Jr. and his wife, Antoinette, of Lewiston; her grandchildren, Nadine, Gary, Dina, Erika, Shawn, Kim and Amber; and her great-grandchildren, Chelsey, Justin, Lyndsy, Kylyn, Shawn and Olivia.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Therese Doustot and Bernice Bertrand; her grandson, Bryan Michael Lessard; and her son-in-law, Robert Cloutier.