AUGUSTA, MAINE

It is with great sorrow that we inform you that our mother, Annette Fecteau, passed away on May 14, 2023. Mom was born on March 13, 1925, to Odias and Valeda Poulin in St. Prosper, Quebec.

Although mom grew up in a rural area where formal educational opportunities were limited, that did not limit her abilities to develop skills that we all benefitted from. To us, there was no better chef than our mom. Thus, we always ate like we were at a five-star Michelin restaurant! As a young skillful seamstress and fashion designer she made pants, shirts, and dresses for her siblings and cousins using patterns that she created. And growing up we also had one-of-a-kind clothing.

She moved to Maine in 1946 at the age of 21, met our dad that same year, and they married in the spring of 1949. She became a naturalized citizen in the mid-fifties. Mom worked intermittently at Taylor Shoe and worked at the St. Augustine cafeteria for over 25 years, retiring at the age of 78.

Mom was known for her speed, not unlike “Speedy Gonzales”. Our dad used to say that she moved as though she was on piece work. She practiced multi-tasking long before that was a thing. Sitting in front of a TV without knitting or making rosaries just didn’t happen. Nearly 5,000 rosaries were made and donated to missions in the Philippines. The knitted mittens, socks, and slippers she donated most likely exceeded that number. School children waiting for their bus in the winter would sometimes come knocking at our door because their hands were cold; somehow, they knew she was the mitten lady. Mom worked hard and laughed even harder. Her sense of humor was a large part of who she was. She was an easy person to love because it’s easy to love someone who fills your heart.

As a devout Catholic, she attended church every Sunday, all the holidays throughout the year, any special ceremonies, and prayer services, especially during the month of Mary that occurred every May (le moi de Marie).

She was predeceased by her parents; husband Philip Fecteau; sister Irene; brothers Adrien, Dorilas, Louida, George, and Dominique; son-in-law Joseph Poirier; and her very best friend, Simone.

Mom is survived by her siblings: Rachel, Dolores and her husband Réné, and Gerard and his wife Ruby; her daughter, Lucie Poirier; sons: Marc and wife Dawn, and Leo and partner, Leane; grandchildren: Tim Young (Colleen), Jason Poirier (Jane), Barbie Wilmot, Alan Fecteau (Stephanie), Stephanie Turner, Salina Hussey (Jason), Kianna Ehnes (Christopher), Justin Fecteau (Grace), Michelle Fecteau (Freddie) and Natalie Fecteau (Blane). She also leaves behind 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the staff from the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta for the care and thoughtfulness they graciously afforded our mother during her time there. They created a home where she was happy and loved. We also want to thank the nursing and physician staff from the ER and 2 West who provided such compassionate care to mom during her final days.

Relatives and friends may visit on Thursday, May 18th from 4 to 6 PM at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church at 10 AM, Friday, May 19th. Burial and committal prayers will take place on Tuesday, June 13th at 10 AM at the old Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Dr., Augusta.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Annette Fecteau to: Maine Veterans’ Home Activity Fund, 35 Heroes Way, Augusta, ME, 04330.