Lorette C. Joseph Obituary (1925 - 2014)

Winslow--Lorette C. Joseph, 89, of Winslow passed on from her life on earth with the loving support of her family, friends and staff at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta on April 4, 2014. She was born on February 10, 1925 in Waterville, the daughter of Emile and Louise Roderique Poulin. Lorette was predeceased by her parents, Emile and Louise Poulin; husband Leopold; son James Jose; and granddaughter, Bethany Lynn Seekins. Lorette graduated from Waterville High School, Class of 1943. On June 7, 1952, she married Leopold Joseph of Winslow. Lorette attended the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps, during World War II, and Sisters Hospital School of Nursing in Waterville and Baltimore, MD. Some of her classmates are Phyllis Bradeen, Madilin Dunbar, Jackie Gamache, Theresa Laplant. Francis Roy, Shirley Raymond and Theresa Roy. Lorette's first position as a registered nurse was at the Lockwood Dutchess Cotton Mill. The mill was located at the Winslow-Waterville bridge, beside the Hathaway Shirt Factory, where she was the industrial Nurse for 5 years until it closed. Lorette worked at Stanley Beckerman, MD office on Silver St. next to the Old Post Office with Nancy Johnson, RN for 5 years. When her children were sick Dr. Beckerman would make a house call for no charge. Lorette became a General Duty Nurse at Thayer Hospital for 2 years. She then went back to her roots at the Old Sister Hospital Now Mount St. Joseph working in the ER. When the sisters build the new hospital known as Elizabeth Ann Seton Hospital on Chase Ave. Mom worked in the ER becoming the Head Nurse of the department reporting to Sister Louise, Sister Mary Kevin and Francis Roy. A new position in the Employee Health Department was created and she became the Employee Health Nurse. Seton and Thayer Hospitals merged in 1975 to become Mid-Maine Medical Center. She continued to be the Employee Health Nurse, the position she retired from in 1987. In retirement, Mom spent 22 winters in Northport, Florida, most of the time at Harbor Cove Park. For many years she was with Lois Sicket, who was also a retired RN. Over the years many friends visited her, some retired there and some are still at Harbor Cove. Harbor Cove became her home away from home, she truly enjoyed the people she met. She was a people person. Don and Norma Ramsdell helped her get establish there and they visited Mom here in Waterville. Another close friend and her family was Terry Walsh from New Hampshire. Mom's cousin, Gerry Poulin and his wife Linda just happened to move into Northport also. Gerry was very generous to Mom. He took her out to restaurants and to the Red Sox Spring Training games for many years. Back in Maine during our summer months Mom would Volunteer wherever they could use her at MaineGeneral in Waterville. Mom started to volunteer on May 4, 1989 at the age of 64 and retired on September 23, 2011 at the age of 86 years old. She volunteered at MaineGeneral for 22 years and 4 months with 1832 hours of service in retirement. Mom worked as a RN from 1947 to 1987 with 40 years in Healthcare. She truly loved it and the people. Lorette was a devoted Catholic of Corpus Christi Parish at St. John the Baptist Church in Winslow. Lorette will be missed by her many friends, co-workers and relatives from Maine to Florida. She really enjoyed life and people. One recent revelation was when I was taking Mom to her doctor's appointment at Dr. Preston's and we were going by the former Lockwood Dutchess Mill on the Winslow-Waterville bridge, she recalled the day years ago while at work that she just happened to be looking outside and saw a man climb the railing just outside of her office. My concerned Mom got the attention of her boss, Ray Rancourt. Ray went out to talk to the man and he came down off of the railing and took a cigarette from Ray. It turned out to be a man that just got back from the war and then he was taken to Togus. Lorette is survived by a son Steven; daughter, Paula and her husband Robert Seekins; granddaughters, Lori Seekins and friend Luke Miller, Kelly Pelletier and husband Jeff. The family would like to thank Mom's friends and relatives involved in her growing up until the day Mom passed away. A Special Thank you to Dr. Preston, Debbie and the staff at Mid Maine Internal Medicine in Winslow; to the Physicians, Nurses and Staff on 2 West and Critical Care Unit at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta; Tim Richardson; Residents and staff at Sunset Home and Mount St. Joseph. You all went above and beyond in help and support to Mom and the Family so once again, thank you. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will celebrated 9 AM on Friday, May 9, 2014 at St. John the Baptist Church, 47 Monument St., Winslow with Rev. Paul Marquis, Celebrant. Burial will follow at Noon at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Dr., Augusta. Arrangements are with Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St. Waterville. An on-line guest book may be signed and condolences may be expressed at www. gallantfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations In Memory of Lorette Joseph to Spectrum Generations, Muskie Center, 38 Gold Street, Waterville, ME 04901 for Meals on Wheels.