BIDDEFORD — Bernadette Hubert Courtois, 85, of Biddeford died Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.
She was born April 27, 1933 in Biddeford, a daughter of Amable and Grace (Ridley) Hubert, Jr. and was educated at St. Andre’s School and graduated from Biddeford High School.
On June 27, 1953 she married Raoul “Ralph” J. Courtois at St. Andre’s Church.
Bernadette was employed at J.J. Newbury Co., at Dame’s Laundry and at Bates Manufacturing Co. She also worked in the lunch programs of St. Louis High, St. Joseph School, Biddeford Junior and Senior High Schools and St. James School.
Bernadette was a homemaker who enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, rug braiding, macramé and made scapulars for the missions. She also volunteered at the St. Joseph School library. Her daughter Joanne “volunteered” her to teach sewing to eighth graders. With her husband, they served as chaperones for the Biddeford High School Band, Ralph serving as a bus driver.
Bernadette belonged to the St. Louis Women’s Association, the St. Joseph Guild and started the Christmas Candlelight party in the church basement. She was also a member of the Franco-American Genealogical Society, the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, St. Andre’s Home Auxiliary, the Biddeford Fifty Plus Club, the Red Hat Society and the Daughters of Isabella, where she was former regent and treasurer. She volunteered at La Kermesse for 23 years and for 12 years at the church funeral luncheons.
Bernadette was preceded in death by Ralph, her husband of 51 years on Feb. 18, 2005; by a baby brother, Wilfrid Henry;a daughter Carmen C. Lowe on Dec. 6, 2009; and a sister, Lorraine Kimball on Jan. 28, 2012.
Surviving are a son, Gerard Courtois and wife Joyce of Old Orchard Beach; a daughter, Joanne Minor and husband Matthew of Westbrook; son-in-law Father Christopher Lowe of North Andover, Massachusetts; a sister, Anna Fogg of Limerick; grandsons, Nicholas and Joshua Minor; a step-granddaughter, Maria Newcome; and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bernadette may be made to St. James School, 25 Graham St., Biddeford, ME 04005.
To share condolences online, please visit www.HopeMemorial.com.
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