LEWISTON — Lorraine P. Gagnon, 85, of Lewiston died peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Woodlands surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Lewiston on Aug. 15, 1933, to the late Alfred and Yvonne Potvin. She was educated in Lewiston schools and raised her family in “Little Canada,” spending their summers at their camp in Sabattus, where they made many wonderful memories.

She married Marcel Gagnon in July 1952 and just celebrated 66 beautiful years together.

They had four children: Richard, Monique, Celine and Lori-Ann.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Ladies of St. Anne Sodality. After school she began her employment at Clark Shoe, later hand-lacing shoes at home for Marchand Moccasins on Lincoln St. She later became a housekeeper for d’Youville; she loved her “Little Memeres.” Then she was a housekeeper at St. Mary’s Hospital in the ICU.

After retirement she and Marcel moved to Sarasota, Fla., where they lived for eight years. She missed her family so much that they returned to Lewiston in 2006.

Aside from her beloved family, she enjoyed going shopping with her sister, Jeannine, on Saturday afternoons on Lisbon Street. She also liked going shopping Saturday night with the “girls.” She enjoyed dancing with her husband at Thibeault Faucher and Jacques Cartier. She was on a bowling league and won many trophies.

She enjoyed having her sisters and cousins over for coffee and social hour. She was passionate about crafting which included cross stitching, knitting, latched hooking, Artex and crocheting. She knitted mittens for Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care. She volunteered as a ballot counter for the city of Lewiston.

She is survived by her husband, Marcel; son, Richard, and his wife, Darlene Gagnon; daughter, Monique, and her husband, Yvan Grimard; daughter, Celine Gagnon, and her boyfriend, Roland Lemieux; daughter, Lori-Ann, and her husband, David Drouin; her sisters, Fleurette Bell and Dorothy Levasseur; sisters-in-law, Rita Potvin and Florence Potvin; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Jason, Ashley, Krista, Kaileb, Anthony and Derek; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her brothers Normand Potvin and Lionel Potvin and her sister, Jeannine Cloutier.

We would like to thank the Woodlands staff and Beacon Hospice for all their wonderful care.

Visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Funeral Alternatives, 25 Tampa St., Lewiston, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Lorraine P. Gagnon