SANFORD — Josephine Regina Bourré, 94, of Sanford, died peacefully at her home on May 23, 2015.
She was born in Biddeford in 1920 to Julius and Anna Regina. She graduated from Biddeford High School in 1939 and attended their class reunions regularly.
She worked as a telephone operator and was assigned to man phone lines in Sanford during the fire of ’47. It was at that time that she met her husband of 55 years, Marcel “Mike” Bourré, who preceded her in death in 2003. Josephine then worked as a seamstress at the Sanford Dress Shop until the late 1970s when she retired.
Her enjoyment of sewing and crafts was demonstrated in the handmade Christmas ornaments she made annually for family and friends; in the crazy-quilts she made for her children and grandchildren; the wedding gown she designed for her daughter, Joyce, and the tailoring of an antique wedding dress for her daughter-in-law, Debra; and the various items she made for bridal and baby showers and to donate to charitable causes.
Josephine was a “regular” at the Rochester VFW Bingo Hall and loved to play cards. When asked how she was doing at the age of 94 she’d reply, “Not bad for an old fuddy-duddy!” then laugh.
She was a devout Catholic. She attended mass every Sunday at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish and prayed nightly for all the members of her family, especially her grandchildren.
Josephine outlived all her siblings and is survived by: a daughter, Joyce, husband Michael and son Daniel of Berwick; three sons; Michael Bourré of Waterboro and his children Jennifer, Kelly and Aaron; Roland Bourré of Orland, his wife Noelle and children Paul, Phil and Pat Bolin; and Raymond Bourré, his wife Debra and children Olivia and Adams of Sanford. She will be missed by eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and her Godchild, Norma Caron of Gilroy, California. She will be especially missed by her childhood friend of 90 years, Helen Brown of Scarborough, with whom she communicated regularly.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the local veterans charity of one’s choice.
Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, May 29 at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, located at 29 Winter St. in Sanford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, located on North Avenue in Sanford. Interment will be at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.
Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.
To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.
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