Eleanor G. (Doucette) Gamache, 92, passed away on April 4, 2019, at Nemasket Healthcare in Middleboro. She had been a resident of Lakeville since the age of four.

While attending Middleboro High School, Class of 1944, she met her classmate and future husband, Paul R. Gamache. They were married in 1948 and celebrated 53 years of marriage before his death in 2001. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Germaine (Deschenes) Doucette.

Ellie worked at Winthrop Atkins during and after graduation from high school before spending many years as a full-time Mom to her children and many of the neighboring friends and relatives who were always welcome to join family activities. She organized daytime bowling leagues at Lakeville Recreation, our family business, and later returned to full-time employment in the Treasurer’s Office at Lakeville Town Hall. After retirement, she continued to work at the polls during elections.

Hobbies included duckpin bowling, puzzles of all kinds, baking, watching the Red Sox, Game Night at Donna’s, and spending time with family at the beach, Foxwoods or Twin River Casino, and attending sporting events, spelling bees, and dance recitals for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For many years, she vacationed in the Caribbean with her daughter, Diane and son-in-law, Frank. She enjoyed being in her backyard which was the location of the annual Gamache/Dufour Family Reunion for about 25 years.

She is survived by one son, Roger Gamache (fiancée Anna Brown) of Lakeville and five daughters, Lucille Kitchen (Richard) and Paula Riley (Steve) of Assonet, Lorraine Place (Paul) of Wareham, Diane McNamee (Frank) of Marion, and Donna Gamache of E. Taunton. Gram, as she was known to her grandchildren, was grandmother to eight, and Great-Gram or Memere to 10. She also leaves many nieces and nephews and two special friends, her “sister” Hellen Laukkanen and bowling friend, Ron Brown. She was predeceased by her sister, Elaine (Doucette) Phillips. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Nemasket Healthcare, Island Terrace, and Compassionate Care Hospice for the care of their mother and their kindness, especially in the last few weeks.

Services will be held on what would have been her 93^rd birthday, Friday, April 26, at Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 280 Bedford Street, Lakeville, at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Sts. Martha & Mary Catholic Church, 354 Bedford Street, Lakeville at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wood Street, Middleboro.

Donations in Ellie’s memory may be made to Lakeville Parks Department, 346 Bedford St., Lakeville, MA 02347 or to a charity of your choice.