Robert left home at a young age and moved to Bath, ME where he worked at various jobs. On July 6, 1939, at the age of 17, he enrolled and became a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which offered valuable work experience to many Maine people. Members used that experience to pursue active and productive careers in Maine. He was honorably discharged on June 28, 1940.
On September 5, 1942, he married his beloved wife, Cecile Cote, at St. John the Baptist Church in Brunswick. They made their first home in Topsham Heights. They were looking forward to celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary in September, 2012 when God sent his angels, on June 21, 2012 to take Cecile home to “Heaven.”
In 1943, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he entered the United States Naval Reserve and was stationed in Oahu, Honolulu and worked as an Apprentice Seaman putting to use his trade in plumbing. He was honorably discharged on September 25th, 1945. After working at Bath Iron Works for 40 years, he retired in 1984 as a lead man in the pipe shop.
In 1943, Roger and Cecile welcomed their first child, a son, Ronald and in 1947 they welcomed a daughter, Nancy. They were a very close-nit family and, over the years, made many fun and lasting memories.
Roger enjoyed boating at Sebago Lake and camping and fishing trips to Moosehead Lake with his family, John and Yvonne Hurd and friends, Roland and Lena Bernier and Marty and Pat Folger using boats they had all built together.
Despite a limited amount of elementary schooling, Roger was a man of many talents. He was self-taught as a plumber, electrician, builder of wooden boats, houses and stone walls. He, with the help from his helper, namely his wife, Cecile, built a home on Rt. 196 in Topsham. In 1968, they sold the house and built their retirement home, including a boat house and detached garage, on Merrymeeting Bay on Pleasant Point Rd., in Topsham. They also built a cottage on Tacoma Lake in Litchfield where they spent many years with his hunting partner and son, Ron. Cherished memories were made by the two of them year after year at the hunting camp. They also helped their children, Ron and Nancy, build their homes.
After retiring, he and Cecile enjoyed owning various style boats, boating on Merrymeeting Bay and a trip to St. Thomas and Hawaii. They purchased a small motor home and took several trips to Florida and to Alaska. Their biggest trip was a bus tour across the United States. While on the tour, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Roger was a selftaught carver. He carved hundreds of wild life such as birds, deer, small animals, and various species of fish. Some of his carvings were displayed in their natural habitat. Ducks, decoys, geese and swan are amongst those that are lifesize. He perfected the painting of his carvings and won many blue ribbons at county fairs and various exhibits/shows. He was a member of the Harpswell Island Carvers Club.
Fruit from his fruit trees and blueberries were in high demand at the Farmer’s Market in Brunswick. All his neighbors on Pleasant Point Rd., knew Roger and Cecile and would always stop by to chat, for a word of advice or to lend a helping hand.
Roger is a 24-year member of American Legion Post 202 in Topsham, Maine.
He is survived by a son: Ronald Litalien and his wife, Tina of Bowdoinham, a daughter, Nancy Leavitt and her husband, Walter of Wiscasset: two grandchildren: Christopher Leavitt and his wife Ruth, of Derry, NH and Donna Andrews and her husband Scott, of Bradford, MA. He and Cecile were blessed with four great-grandchildren: Anna and Benjamin Leavitt and Samantha and Caitlin Andrews. Also surviving are three sisters, Bernadette Arsenault, Yvonne Hurd and Theresa LaPlante: one brother, George, Jr. and his wife Anita and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Cecile; four brothers, Albert, Andre, Donald and Roland, and three sisters, Irma Bilodeau, Joanne D’Arc Fournier and Mary Rose Albertine Smith.
Per Roger’s request, there will not be any visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. John the Baptist Church, All Saints Parish, Pleasant Street, Brunswick at 12:00 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2013. Burial will follow in Bay View Cemetery in Bowdoinham. Following the church service, family and friends are invited to the Knights of Columbus in Brunswick, to share stories and happy times spent with Roger and Cecile.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to St. John’s Elementary School, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick. Arrangements are in the care of Brackett Funeral Home in Brunswick. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
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