Roanne Carolyn Fortin, 71, of Bristol, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026 at her home, surrounded by family. She was born on April 17, 1954 in Chelsea, Mass. to Robert and Marion (Doyle) Becker. Daughter of a Navy family, she spent her early years moving around the world, including time living in Boston, Cuba, Germany, Maryland, and Hawaii.
While living on a farm in Maryland, she developed a lifelong love of animals, resulting in many beloved dogs and cats over her lifetime. She had a special affinity for her time in Hawaii and returned there many times over her life, including winters during her retirement years. It was her happy place.
She was an avid reader and loved playing Scrabble; she may have been single-handedly keeping the game Words with Friends going, often simultaneously keeping the maximum number of games going!
Upon her father’s retirement from the Navy, the family settled in Hudson, Mass. where she went to high school and met the love of her life and husband of 50 years, Joseph Fortin. She attended Westbrook Junior College, with a dual major in fashion merchandising and business retail management and was part of the last all-female graduating class. After marrying Joe in 1975, they would live in Rhode Island and Maryland for a time before settling down in Bristol in the home they would raise their family in.
A devoted wife and mother, she would go on to raise three sons and would have two grandsons and three granddaughters. They were her pride and joy.
She was heavily involved in their activities, taking active roles in the local Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops, Bristol Consolidated School (playground fund), Second Congregational Church (where she was a longtime member), and Lincoln Academy, where she supported Project Graduation and also worked in the special education department prior to retirement. All three of her sons attained the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts, in large part due to her dedication and support.
If you lived in Bristol for any amount of time in the past 45 years, she almost certainly hit you up for donations to support these activities and other local charities and organizations! In retirement, she enjoyed volunteering for the Miles Memorial Hospital League, where she organized and sorted donations and assisted with the summer rummage sales. She loved to shop and hunt for her “treasures” and took joy in finding the perfect gifts for family and friends with items of personal meaning.
She was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Marion Becker (Hudson, Mass.); and her nieces, Megan Shannon and Keriann Shannon.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph Fortin, of Bristol; her sons, Jeffrey (and wife Rachel), of North Kingstown, R.I., Russell (and wife Ellen), of Linden, Mich., and Gregory (and wife Lauren), of Canton, Conn.; as well as her grandchildren, William, Christopher, Jordan, Addison, and Hailey.
She also leaves behind her sisters, Janet Burns (and husband Jason), of Tampa, Fla., and Suellyn Shannon (and husband Michael), of Morganton, Ga.; as well as nieces and nephews, Kate (Shannon) Marple, Andrea (Burns) Virgili, and Alex Burns, and their spouses and children.
A celebration of life will be held in Bristol in May or June, with a date and details to be announced in a few weeks. Private burial will be held at Bristol Mills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you make a donation to your local animal shelter or humane society in her honor in support of her love of animals.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences and messages for her family may be expressed by visiting stronghancock.com.
