Brenda J. French

LEWISTON – Brenda J. French, 72, of Minot, passed away on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023 at Montello Manor. She was born in Lewiston to Arthur and Barbara (Seeley) Laverdiere Sept. 23, 1950.

She was educated in many surrounding schools including a one room schoolhouse in Hebron. She attended Edward Little High School and was scheduled to graduate in 1968, but due to her mother’s health issues she had to leave school in her senior year to tend to her brothers and sisters. After missing her graduating year and the next, she finished her high school education graduating in 1970. After graduation she attended one year at Mid Maine School of Commerce.

She worked for Shaw’s Supermarkets starting while she was a senior in high school. She only took time off for the births of her two children. Her tenure there lasted forty years.

She married Stephen L. French on June 26, 1971, at Saint Louis Church in New Auburn, after a five year courtship. They resided on Turner Street in Auburn for a couple years before making their home in Minot, on land her father gave them.

She enjoyed the water and spending time in their many boats. She was never known to catch many fish, just the big ones! She also enjoyed traveling, camping, attending theater, chocolate, and finding a good bargain. She spent a few years traveling in their motorhome before settling into a camp in Jackman late in life.

She has one son, Jayme. He and his wife Christina and their three children reside in Jackman. The children always called her “Grammy,” and she looked upon them as her grandchildren.

She has one daughter, Laurie and partner Ryan who reside in Sabattus. They provided her with her granddaughter Leah, who could make her grandmother smile just by entering the room.

She had many dogs in her life, and was most especially proud of her springers, “Bobby and Abby.”

While her husband was always in the forefront of his business and hobbies, she chose to be his biggest supporter from behind the scenes, and she volunteered in various capacities to join him in those hobbies.

Brenda loved her family, and she leaves behind her brothers; Jeff and Todd Laverdiere, Sean Goyette, Sisters; Tina Roan, Lisa Laverdiere Barrieault, Nicole Bergeron, and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at 4 p.m., at Center Minot Hill Cemetery in Minot. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 26 West Dwinal Street, Mechanic Falls. Online Condolences may be shared with her family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.