SACO — M. Doris Comtois, 86, of Saco, peacefully passed to heaven in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, Oct. 11, 2014 at St. Andre’s health care facility in Biddeford.
She was born in Lawrence, Massachu-setts on April 29, 1928, to Jean Baptiste and Delphine Marquis Comtois.
Upon graduation from St. Theresa High School in Methuen, Massachusetts, Doris entered the Good Shepherd Sisters in Biddeford in 1947. She taught school in Biddeford, North Caribou, Van Buren, Grand Isle and Keegan. She continued her education at St. Joseph’s College in Windham, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1964. In 1967, she was awarded a grant to attend the University of New Hampshire where she studied the correlation of reading and counseling, receiving a master’s degree in counseling education. She returned to Biddeford and worked at St. Andre’s School and St. Joseph’s School as a counselor for several years.
Following a position of counselor at St. Andre’s Home for Unwed Mothers, Doris continued her service for nine years at Maine Children’s Home in Waterville. In 1982, she began a private counseling practice with her friend and colleague, Earlyne Blackstone. For 11 years, they served as educational consultants in the greater Waterville area. During that time, she conducted several workshops as a parent educator throughout the state. She retired in 1993 and moved to the Saco/Biddeford area, where she worked as a part-time receptionist for the Good Shepherd Sisters at Bayview for more than 15 years.
Doris enjoyed watching sports on television and participating in fun-filled times with family and close friends. She especially enjoyed being with children, and children enjoyed being with her.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; her sister, Loretta Archambeault; her brother-in-law, Chuck Archambeault; and her brother, Raymond Comtois, all of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
She is survived by: her nieces, Nancy Archambeault Kilcrease of Ocala, Florida and Doris Bruner of Lawrence, Massachusetts; and her nephews, Rene Archambeault of Lawrence, Massachusetts and Neil Archambeault of Methuen, Massachusetts; and several great-nieces and nephews. Her closest friend and colleague, Earlyne Blackstone, remains a resident at St. Andre’s Home in Biddeford. Doris enjoyed a close friendship with Phyllis Blackstone and Ruth Bruns, who cared for her in her later years.
A time of visitation will be held at the Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, followed by a celebration of life service at 2 p.m. Inurnment of her ashes will be held following the service at Laurel Hill Cemetery on Beach St. in Saco. All are invited to a reception at the conclusion of the inurnment. Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. Condolences can be shared online at www.hopememorial.com. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Teen Parent School Program, Maine Children’s Home, 93 Silver St., Waterville, ME 04901.
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