James A. Paul

James A. Paul, 31, of Biddeford died unexpectedly at his home Sunday, July 26, 2009.

 He was born in Biddeford on March 26, 1978, to Phillip and Joan Petrin Paul. He was educated in Biddeford schools and graduated from Biddeford High School in 1996.

During his high school years he worked at Alex Pizza in Biddeford, Captain’s Galley and the Village Inn in Old Orchard Beach. After graduating he went to work at the Radisson Hotel in Oxford, Mass., for a couple of years. He then moved to California for three years and returned to the area in 2002, where he worked in construction.

Among his interests were enjoyment of music.

Survivors include his parents, of Biddeford; his sister, Christina Hurton and her husband, Philip, of Shrewsbury, Mass.; his maternal grandmother, Therese I. Petrin of Saco; his paternal grandmother, Irene Paul of Biddeford; and his paternal grandfather, John Paul and his wife, Claire, of Saco.

Services will be private. 

Donations in memory of Mr. Paul may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (The Jimmy Fund), 10 Brookline Place, Sixth floor,  Brookline, MA 02445

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Paul M. Curran

Paul M. Curran, 72, of Dayton, died at his home Wednesday, July 29, 2009, surrounded by his family.

He was born Aug. 25, 1936, in Biddeford to Adelbert and Winnifred (Smart) Curran.

He attended Saco schools and graduated from Thornton Academy in 1954.  He later attended SMVTI in South Portland.

Mr. Curran was a devout man and was active in his local church and most recently worshipped at the East Waterboro Free Baptist Church.

He worked for Maine Central Railroad for 17 years and retired from the Maine Department of Transportation in 1998.  He was a past chapter president of the Maine State Employee Association.

He enjoyed golfing, gardening, fishing, working with his tractors antique cars, and snowmobiling; however, his passion for Christ was his driving force.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth (Cole) Curran, in 1983.

Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Barbara (Boyer) Curran; his son Dave Curran and his wife, Melissa, of Dayton; his daughters, Deb Giacomantonio and her husband, Joe, of Saco, and Diane Hunt and her husband, Matt, of Dayton; stepchildren Chris Kunkle of Pennsylvania, Glen Kunkle of Ohio and Kimberly Henson of Saco; grandchildren Elizabeth and Rebekah Giacomantonio, Karaghan, Anthony, Rylie Curran and Cassandra Henson; nine step-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was Saturday at the Hollis Center Baptist Church, with burial in South Buxton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086; East Waterboro Free Baptist Church, P.O. Box 216, East Waterboro, ME 04030; or to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Kathryn ‘Brooke’ Baxter

Kathryn “Brooke” Baxter, 32, of Biddeford, died unexpectedly Sunday, July 26, 2009, in a bus accident in Tanzania, Africa.  She was in Kenya, Africa volunteering for the Lwala Community Alliance Safe Motherhood program as the recipient of a University of New England Student Government Associations Carmen Pettapiece Student Research grant.

Ms. Baxter was born Jan. 30, 1977, in Pensacola, Fla. She was a graduate of New Hope High School in New Hope, Pa., and the University of Florida at Gainesville where she received a Bachelor of Arts in cultural anthropology and African studies in 2000.  She also received a master’s in Public Health from Tulane University in 2002, and studied at the World Health Organization Centre for International Health Economics at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, Temple University, Villanova University and University of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2007.

Ms. Baxter completed her first year at the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, where she was the recipient of the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program through the U.S. Army.  She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corp in 2008. 

She worked at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for Infectious Disease, Ride for World Health, Carelift International and International Medical Corp. prior to enrolling at UNE in 2008.  She dedicated her life to bringing awareness and compassion to numerous global health issues including HIV/AIDs, obstetric care and infectious disease.  She was fluent in Kiswahili, and also spoke Spanish, French and Sierra Leonean Krio.

She was director of international health programs and the multicultural affairs representative for the UNE COM chapters.  She was also a member of the Global Health Council, International Federation of Medical Student Associations, American Public Health Association, Public Health Student Caucus, Golden Key National Honors Society and Lamda Alpha National Anthropological Honor Society.

Survivors include her parents, Harry T. Baxter and Jeanne M. Baxter; sisters Jennifer Baxter Weil and Claire Baxter Fitzgerald and their families; Devin Weil, Julianna Brooke Weil and Sasha Elizabeth Weil; and Sean Fitzgerald, Caroline Smythe Fitzgerald and Elise Baxter Fitzgerald.

A service in her honor will be held Sept. 12 at the University of New England. 

On Brooke’s behalf, her family encourages her friends to attend a local Quaker meeting on Sunday prior to the celebration of Brooke’s life. 

In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be sent to the Lwala Community Alliance at www.lwalacommunityalliance.org or Ride for World Health at www.rideforworldhealth.org. 

Therese Drapeau

Therese Drapeau, 85, of Biddeford, died Sunday, July 19, at Evergreen Manor in Saco.  She was born Sept. 2, 1923, to Napoleon and Isabelle Masse Nadeau and was educated in Biddeford at St. Andre’s School and in Canada.

  On Sept. 4, 1950, she married Joseph Drapeau at St. Andre’s Church in Biddeford.

Mrs. Drapeau was employed at the Bay View Convent in the kitchen for more than 20 years.  She was a member of St. Andre’s Church, a member of the Daughters of Isabella and a volunteer babysitter for the former St. Andre’s Home.

She is remembered by many as a woman with a kind heart, who loved people and who was devoted to her family and friends and dedicated to her grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph, in 2000; her sisters, Sister Beatrice Nadeau, P.M., Sister Rita Nadeau, P.M., Gabrielle Nadeau, and her brothers, Robert Nadeau, Gerard Nadeau and Leo Paul Nadeau.

Survivors include her daughters, Denise Lasante and her husband, Michael, of Saco, Suzanne Paquette and her husband, Guy, of Saco and Patricia Chenard and her husband, Kevin, of Fernandina, Fla.; her son, Charles Drapeau of Waterboro; her sisters, Claire Dutil of Biddeford, Sister Cecile Nadeau P.M. of Methuen, Mass., and Frances Nadeau of Biddeford; her brothers, Ralph Nadeau of Charleston, S.C. and Rodolphe Nadeau of Pasadena, Calif.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, July 26, at St. Andre’s Church in Biddeford, with burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mrs. Drapeau may be made to American Diabetes Association Maine Affiliate, 10 Bangor St. Augusta, ME  04330. 

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm Street, Biddeford, ME 04005.    

Diana T. LeBlond

Diana T. LeBlond, 96, of Biddeford died Thursday, July 30, 2009, at Southridge Living Center after a brief illness. 

She was born in Biddeford on June 15, 1913, to Ephrem and Lydia LeBlanc Tardiff and was educated in Biddeford schools.

On Oct. 29, 1938, she married Jean R. LeBlond in St. Joseph Church in Biddeford. He died on May 6, 1993.

Mrs. LeBlond worked six years at Kesslen Shoe Shop in Kennebunk, 12 years at Bates Manufacturing Co. in Saco and five years at Youland’s Dept. Store in Biddeford. She was a member of the Biddeford Senior Citizens and St. Joseph Church.

She was predeceased by her brothers Gerard and Herve Tardiff.

Survivors include her brother, Leo Paul Tardiff and his wife, Wanda, of Winter Haven, Fla.; her sisters, Germaine Tardiff, Rita Lafortune and her husband, Paul, and Rachel Goulet and her husband, Ivan, all of Biddeford; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was Monday at Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford.  

Donations in memory of Mrs. LeBlond may be made to St. James School, 25 Graham St., Biddeford, ME  04005.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel.

William F. Hayes

William F. Hayes, 88, of Bay View in Saco, died Friday July 31, 2009, at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford.

He was born on May 1, 1921, in Cambridge, Mass., to John and Josephine (Gayan) Hayes.

 He graduated from Belmont High School and then enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, serving during World War II. He received several medals, including a Purple Heart. After serving his country he enrolled in the University of New Hampshire and then Oxford University, receiving a degree in business. 

Mr. Hayes worked in sales for many years starting with the Gillette Co. He later owned and operated Atherton’s Furniture Store in Lewiston.

He was on the board of trustees for the New England College of Optometry, the Saco Zoning Board, and a member of Disabled American Veterans Biddeford. He was an avid golfer and member of Biddeford Saco Country Club, and a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. 

After a huge winter storm on Feb. 6, 1978, devastated the Bay View section of Saco, Mr. Hayes studied the beach areas that survived the storm, and realized it was the sea grass that protected the beach not the granite walls.

 He and several other residents purchased $1,500 worth of sea grass from New Jersey and successfully transplanted it in Bay View to save the beaches. 

 He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Rita (Roux) Hayes, who died Dec. 15, 2005.

Mr. Hayes is survived by his two daughters, Veronica Steinsky and her husband, Rudy, of New Hampshire, and Donna Hayes of Saco; his niece Susan and his two nephews, John and Michael.

 A Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday at St. Margaret’s Church in Old Orchard Beach, with burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

 Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Justine H. Sears

Justine H. Sears, 83, of Saco, died at her home on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, with her brother at her side.

She was born in Biddeford on Nov. 25, 1925, to John E. and Anne (McCormick) Harvey. She graduated from Thornton Academy and then attended Gorham State Teachers College.

She was employed as a receptionist by New England Telephone in Biddeford for many years. Mrs. Sears was an avid golfer, a member of Biddeford Saco Country Club and was the ladies champion for three years. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband, Frank.

She was predeceased by her husband, Frank H. Sears Sr.; and her brothers, J. William Harvey, John J. Harvey and Paul V. Harvey.

She is survived by her brother, Joseph G. Harvey and his wife, Christine, and her sister, Anne B. Harvey, all of Saco; her sons, Frank H. Sears Jr. and his wife, Shannon, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Steven Sears; her brother-in-law Richard Sears and his wife, Joan, of New York; her  sisters-in-law, Mildred Harvey of Saco, Pearl Harvey of Gorham and Ethelyn Harvey of Waterville; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass was Wednesday at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church of Good Shepherd Parish in Saco, with burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to American Cancer Society, 1 Main St., Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Armand J. Raymond

Armand J. Raymond, 76, of Saco, died Friday, July 24, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla. 

He was born March 27, 1933, in St. Agatha, to Anselme and Ida Boucher Raymond. He was educated in Sinclair schools.

Mr. Raymond was employed by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for 20 years, and retired in 1993. He was a third-degree Knight of Columbus and a former member of Veterans of Foreign War. 

He enjoyed wintering in Florida, but most of all he loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife, Lorraine Grenier Raymond, on Dec.10, 2005, his brothers, Simon and Roland, and his sister, Gilberte Raymond Roy.

Survivors include his daughters, Sharon Benefiel and her husband, Daniel, of Orange Park, Fla., and Linda Jordan and her husband, Donald, of Saco; his sisters, Muriel Ouellette, Marie Delekto and Lucille Cyr, all of Saco, and Angie Gregoire of Biddeford; two grandchildren, Erik and Megan, and several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, Good Shepherd Parish in Saco. Entombment will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.

 Arrangements are by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.