AUBURN — Emma Baillargeon, 100, a resident of Lewiston died Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Hospice House in Auburn, after a four-day stay.

She was born Jan. 17, 1917, in Lewiston, to Wilfred and Imelda (Bazinet) Dufresne. She was married to Cyrille Baillargeon at St. Peter’s Church on May 10, 1941. They had been married 68 years when her husband died on Jan. 27, 2010.

Emma was proud to have worked at the Hill Mill and Clark Shoe. She was caretaker for more than 40 children in her home before day cares came into being, all while raising her own five children.

She was a member of Holy Family Church for 66 years where she belonged to the Ladies of St. Anne and had been chosen mother of the year. As a young woman, she belonged to the drill team of La Guarde Evangeline, Association de L’Assomption. Emma was also a member of the Marchands et Marchandes de Bonheur at Marcotte Home where she volunteered for the elderly, worked for the senior citizen bingo at Holy Family Church and helped with the elderly at d’Youville Pavilion for nine years. At the age of 85, we thought it was great to hear them say they had to go help the “old” people in the nursing home.

She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing card games and especially Dominos once a week on Tuesday (what she called her night out). Family meant everything to her. She also loved to work alongside her husband raising their own food from their well-tended garden. She had a kind heart, was always ready to help and truly was a member of the greatest generation with her selflessness, work ethic, love for people, stubbornness, fun-loving spirit, humility and deep faith. She will be greatly missed by all. You could truly say she embodied the spirit of faith, hope and love.

She is survived by her two sons, Richard and his wife, Constance (Boisclair), of Lisbon and Leo and his wife, Gail (Lagasse), of Lewiston; three daughters, Rachel Desgrosseilliers of Minot, Cecile and husband, Andre Langlois, and Anita and her husband, Paul Grenier of Lewiston; two grandsons, Troy Baillargeon and his wife, Sarah (Allen), of North Granby, Conn., and Shawn Langlois and his fiancée, Kimberly (Francis), of Lewiston; six granddaughters, Ronda (Baillargeon) and her husband, Michael Lecompte of Lewiston, Kim (Baillargeon) and her husband, Steve Hachey, of Winthrop, Doris (Grenier) and her husband, William Webb, of Blue Hill, Julie (Grenier) and her husband, Jason Laplante, of Lewiston, Celeste (Langlois) and her husband, Daniel Horan, of Windham, N.H., and Amanda (Baillargeon) and her husband, Robert DeFlumere, of Lewiston; three step-granddaughters, Jane Desgrosseilliers of Arizona, Susan Desgrosseilliers of Portland and Diana (Desgrosseilliers) and her husband, Simon Castle, of Rockport; 13 great-grandchildren, Logan Lecompte, U.S. Navy of Italy, Lauren Lecompte of Lewiston, Mark Hachey of Vermont, Adam Hachey of Winthrop, Isaac Webb of Georgia, Liam Webb of Blue Hill, Xavier and Zoe Laplante of Lewiston, Eleanor, Hannah and Bradley Baillargeon of North Granby, Conn., and Emma and Chloe DeFlumere of Lewiston; six step-great-grandchildren, Garrett Thorbjornson of Thomaston, Erika Thorbjornson of Warren, Alexandra MacMillan of Boston, Emily MacMillan of Portland, Oliver and Larson Castle of Rockport; one step-great-great-grandson, Gary Thorjornsen Pratt of Warren. She is survived by one sister-in-law who meant very much to her, Simone MacKenzie of Sidney.

She was predeceased by her husband; infant daughter, Doris Baillargeon; three sisters, Delima, Alice and Grace; and four brothers, Willfred, Tony, Augustine and Rosario; as well as a son-in-law, Harvey Desgrosseilliers.

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, especially Dr. Kurt Oswald who showed great caring as well as the Hospice House for the compassionate care they gave our loving mom during her last unexpected days with us.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.

Emma Baillargeon