Elizabeth (Liz) Marie-Anna Demers Duchesneau died peacefully at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, surrounded by her loving family, on Feb. 17. She was born in Auburn to Cesarie (Gagne) and Ludger Demers on March 6, 1929.
Elizabeth married the late Roger A. Duchesneau in 1948. They raised six strong, loving daughters during their 40-plus years of marriage. Liz lived in Maine most of her life, with the exceptions of Connecticut for about 10 years, and briefly in Mississippi.
In 1970, Elizabeth and her family returned to Maine, living for many years in Nobleboro, then Newcastle, and also Damariscotta. Liz was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic community for almost 48 years, serving on numerous committees and was a Eucharistic Minister for a number of years. Liz formerly worked as a cook at The Lincoln Home, Miles Memorial Hospital, and Nobleboro Central School. She also cooked at Little John’s Italian Restaurant, Clarissa Ilsley Tavern and The Diner (where the former Back Street Landing Restaurant was located). For an additional 17 years she was a devoted cook and caretaker for an elderly couple in the Damariscotta area. Her last job was spent helping out at Homeport Supply (a family-owned business of daughter Eva and her husband Steven Frey) for many years until she decided, at age 82, that it was probably time to retire for good.
After so many years of cooking and caretaking for her family and others, Liz moved to The Lincoln Home in the summer of 2016. There she enjoyed having delicious food prepared for her, attending family gatherings, walking outdoors whenever someone could go with her, and skillfully making 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed the activities, companionship of friends, and the beautiful setting at The Lincoln Home.
Elizabeth was predeceased by all of her birth family, her husband, one child (Elizabeth), and leaves behind daughters and their families: Eva and Steven Frey of Newcastle, Jane and Dave Whitmore of South Burlington, Vt., Anita and Tom Kintz of Groton, Conn., Linda and Bill Pierce of South Bristol, Pauline Duchesneau and Laurie Warzinski of Orrington, and Janet and Dale Dolloff of Shenyang, China; grandchildren, Ben Frey (and Dancer Jensen-Starr) of Newcastle, Angela (and Jason) White of Nobleboro, Daniel Frey (and Aimee Martin) of Portland, Colin (and Dawn McKenna) Frey of Gardiner, Alex Kintz of Groton, Conn., Beth Pierce of Waldoboro, Billy (and Christina) Pierce of Fitzwilliam, N.H., Shari (and Jeremy) Wills of Wiscasset, Richard Pierce (and Molly Woodward) of Waterville, Damian Genthner of Napa, Cal., Stephen Genthner of Bangor, Jeffrey Genthner of Napa, Cal., Samantha (and Ian) Martineau of Lynchburg, Va., and Nicholas (and Maegan) Dolloff of Fort Campbell, Ky.; and great-grandchildren, to date, Eleanor Frey, Lucy White, Eric White, Lydia (and husband William) Johnson, Emily Harrington, Willem Frey, Austin Whitney, Liam Pierce, and Levi Wills.
A Catholic mass and celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., April 7 at St. Patrick’s Church, Academy Hill Rd., Newcastle with recitation of the rosary (half an hour before) at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston.
Condolences and messages for her family may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
