Grace E. Willette

Waterville Grace E. Willette, 80, of 61 Boutelle Ave., Waterville died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 at her home surrounded by her loving husband and family. She was born Jan. 6, 1930 in Oakland, the daughter of Hilda Newell and Clayton Osgood Burwood. She was a graduate of Oakland High School and Kents Hill Prep School. She had previously worked at Union Mutual Life Ins. Company; switchboard operator at Mid Maine Medical Center Thayer Unit; Anesthesia Associates; and Dr. Valentine Moore who was an anesthesiologist. She had also worked for the Waterville Answering Service retiring in 1982. She then did secretarial work for her husband at Chase Fuel Company. She volunteered at Muskie Center. She was an avid bowler on two leagues, Monday for ''Prime Timers'' and Thursday for ''Doughnut League. She loved reading paper back books. She enjoyed her membership and volunteering at the Cascade and Rome Granges. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and the Elks Ladies Auxiliary. She was predeceased by her parents, Clayton and Hilda Burwood; a great-granddaughter, Avery Rose Morrison July 5, 2006; and by four brothers, Richard, Kenneth, Roger, and Dana Burwood. Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Richard V. Willette, Sr. of Waterville; two sons, Richard V. Willette, Jr. and wife Rose Hannon Willette, and Bruce J. Willette; two sisters, Janice Derosier of Bangor and Marian Jurdak and husband Richard of Oakland; three granddaughters, Jade Alison, Shannon Alane, and Tiffany Oriana; two grandsons, Brayson Joseph Willette and Logan Gauge Fleming; three great-grandsons, Jonathan Cade Fleming, Ethan Hunter Fleming, and Landon Matthew Morrison; a great-granddaughter, Ashlyn Paige Fleming. Public visiting hours will be held from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. Wed., Jan. 13, 2010 at the Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at Sacred Heart Church, 70 Pleasant St., Waterville with Rev. Philip Tracy officiating. Burial will follow in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Grove St., Waterville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Avery Rose Morrison may be made to St. Jude Children's Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38101 or to Andre's Group Home, 283 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. The family wishes to thank HealthReach Hospice, Dr. Clifton Smith, nurse Claire LeClair; granddaughters, Jade and Shannon and Grace's sisters, Marian Jurdak and Janice Derosier for all their help and assistance. Gracie's favorite saying was 'To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves; let us be above such transparent egotism...If you can't say good and encouraging things, say nothing. Nothing is often a good thing to say, and always a clever thing to say. -- Will Durant.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------