Irene Claire Boisvert

LEWISTON — Irene Claire Boisvert, who was receiving home hospice care as a result of a recently diagnosed terminal illness, passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 20, surrounded by her three daughters.

She was born in Lewiston on Sept. 20, 1929, the 11th child of Eveline Goulet Auger and Joseph (Jim) Auger. Orphaned at the age of 7, she was raised, along with her two youngest sisters, Anita and Simonne, by the Sisters of Charity at St. Joseph’s Orphanage (also known at the Marcotte Home) until she graduated from St. Dominic’s High School in 1948. Shortly after, she met and married her first and only true love, Maurice A. Boisvert, and they were married on July 1, 1950. They were married for almost 65 years before Maurice died in February of 2015, leaving Irene with a “broken heart,” and she missed him every day.

They had three children, Lucille of Gardiner, and Therese and Donna, both of New Bern, N.C., whom they loved and treasured.

Irene had a variety of jobs post-high school graduation, including working at the Bates Mill, Phillips Elmet, and a short stint as a second grade teacher, but her primary work was as office manager for Drs. Morissette, Grimes and Tiongson, all pediatricians in the Lewiston area, from 1963 until 1990. Along with managing this office, she also became a real estate agent in 1973, running her own agency from her home for 15 years.

Irene loved to sing, play the piano and tell stories. She participated in several church choirs and helped to spearhead many fundraising events for various worthy causes. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy in life was her husband and family, and she was blessed to see or speak to all of them, along with many close friends, before her death.

She was predeceased by her loving husband; her parents; 10 siblings; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with her three daughters, Lucille Rioux, Therese Morin and her husband, Jim, and Donna Highfill, she is survived by seven grandchildren and five great-granchildren, Jarod Rossignol and his partner, Meghan Meuse of Freeport, Christien Rioux and his wife, Stacy, and their twin daughters, Elizabeth and Madison of Westlake Village, Calif., Sarah Rossignol of South Portland, Nicholas Rioux and his wife, Erin, and their children, Adrian and Harper of Swampscot, Mass., Darcy Guilmette of Oregon, Wesley Guilmette and his daughter, Bailey, of Wilmington, N.C., and Alex Koris of New Bern, N.C. She is also survived by her youngest sister, Anita Marshall, of Utica, N.Y.; a very special nephew, Ron Couture of Durham; and many other nieces and nephews, all of whom were special and close to her heart.