Anthony Pitale

Anthony Pitale, 80, of Biddeford died Friday, May 28, 2010, at Southern Maine Medical Center.

He was born Dec. 21, 1929, in Pleasantville, N.J. to Frank and Martha Longway Pitale.

He joined the U.S. Navy at age 14 under the name of his older brother, Frank, to escape living in foster homes. He served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years, and after his military retirement he worked as a truck driver for St. Johnsbury Trucking in Scarborough.

Mr. Pitale was a member of St. Andre Church.  He belonged to the local Teamsters’ Union,  Biddeford Eagles, Aerie 804 and Biddeford Amvets Post. He was a citizens band radio operator for many years.  He loved the Boston Red Sox, and hunting and fishing were passions he enjoyed sharing with his children, grandchildren and other family members and friends.  He also played the drums, which he taught himself when he was young.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret Joan Sweeney Pitale. Also preceding him in death were brothers David and Frank Pitale and sisters Rose Pitale, Emily Roy and Mary Kollar.

Survivors include his wife of 16 years, Jeannine Tellier Day Pitale; three daughters, Marion Pitale and her fiancé, George Kearns Jr., of South Portland, Emily Sherwood and her husband, Bruce, of Dayton, Karen Woodbury and her husband, Jack, of Yarmouth; five grandchildren; a sister, Pearl Tassoni of Wildwood, N.J.; five step children, Darlene Bean and her husband, Jeffrey, April Lajoie, Dennis, Brian and Doris Day, all of Biddeford; 16 step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Andrew E. Garland

Andrew E. Garland, 50, of Biddeford, died Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

 He was born Jan. 11, 1960, in Portland to Paul O. and Jacqueline L. (MacDonald) Garland.

 Mr. Garland was employed in Connecticut as an ironworker and since living in Maine had worked as a roofer.

He was predeceased by his father, Paul O. Garland.

Survivors include two sons, Shawn Garland of Connecticut and Brian Garland of Biddeford; his mother, Jacqueline Garland of Biddeford; seven brothers, Paul D. and Paul O. Garland of Limington, Jeffrey Garland of Portland, Robert Jesse Garland of Massachusetts, Steve and Michael Garland of Connecticut and Michael Clough of Biddeford; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Kenneth E. Rutter

Kenneth E. “Ken” Rutter, 79, of Saco, died Friday, May 28, 2010, at Kennebunk Nursing Center following a long illness.       

He was born July 10, 1930, in Portland to Ralph and Bernice (Hatch) Rutter. He was educated in Portland schools and graduated from Portland High School in 1948.

On April 19, 1952, he married Carol M. Garnett in Portland.

Mr. Rutter worked at First National Store in Portland, followed by Bagley Supermarket in Saco, the Farm Store in Biddeford and Martin’s Supermarket in Saco, which became Shop & Save and later Hannaford Bros. He retired in 1992 as assistant store manager.

He enjoyed hunting, gardening, swimming, golfing, bowling and traveling with his wife to Hawaii to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Carol M. Rutter of Saco; two sons, Jeffrey A. Rutter of Scarborough and Gary K. Rutter of Saco; his daughter, Diane E. Gagnon of Old Orchard Beach; his sister, Geraldine Harmon of South Portland; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Richard J. Bisson

Richard J. Bisson, 62, of  Arundel, died Thursday, May 27, 2010, at Southern Maine Medical Center.

 He was born Oct. 20, 1947, in Biddeford to Urbain A. and Germaine (Cayer) Bisson. He was educated in Biddeford schools and graduated from Biddeford High School in 1968.

On June 18, 1994, he married Lorraine Boissonneault in Biddeford.

Mr. Bisson worked for 20 years at the Biddeford Fire Department and retired due to ill health.

He was a member of St. Joseph Church and enjoyed woodworking, doing yard work and flower gardening and attending family gatherings. He had a special fondness for his dog “Pudgy.”

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Lorraine Bisson of Arundel; two sons, Bruce Bisson of Biddeford and Carl Bisson and his wife, Belinda, of San Diego, Calif.; one daughter, Lynn Bisson of Massachusetts; three stepsons,  Christopher Boutin of Saco, David Boutin of Biddeford and Scott Ouellette and his wife, Sarah, of Biddeford; one stepdaughter, Melissa Martin and her husband, Paul, of Dayton; two brothers, Paul R. Bisson and his wife, Louise, of Lyman, Norman L. Bisson and his wife, Jacinthe, of Biddeford; one sister, Diane D. Cote and her husband, Roger, of Lyman; 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Paul H. Tranchemontagne

Paul Henri Tranchemontagne, 75, of Biddeford, died Thursday, May 27, 2010, at his residence.

 He was born Aug. 25, 1934, in Lowell, Mass., to George and Beatrice (Chiasson) Tranchemontagne.

He was educated in Lowell Catholic schools and was valedictorian for the class of 1952 at St. Ignatius High School in Sanford. He attended Bates College and Nasson College.

While residing in Berwick he worked at G.E. in Somersworth, N.H., and began his lifelong career in computer systems management.

He and Rachel Watier of Sanford were married in 1955 and eventually resided in Nashua, N.H., where he was employed by Sanders Associates for 20 years and then became manager of information at Kollsman Instruments of Merrimack, N.H., until his retirement in 1997.

An avid sports enthusiast and athlete, he closely followed the Boston Bruins and Red Sox, and played on industrial softball, golf and tennis leagues and served intermittently as president of those organizations.  He took up running in his 50s and delighted in having run two marathons, in Atlantic City, N.J., and Burlington, Vt., by the time he was 60.  He loved to ski Sugarloaf in Maine and several ski areas in New Hampshire and Colorado.

He embraced community and church service, and was chairman of Community Chest drives, employee entertainment committees and various charities in Nashua, N.H.  A pillar of the church, he served on parish council boards and was a Eucharistic minister. 

As a history buff, he especially enjoyed world travel with his wife and friends, and traveled to Europe, Australia, Hawaii and Canada and the U.S. from coast to coast.  As “snow birds” they wintered in Clearwater, Fla.

He was a parishioner of St. Brendan’s Chapel of Good Shepherd Parish in Biddeford.

He was predeceased by his brother, Jean Tranchemontagne, and sister, Lea Cote.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel; his son Michael and his wife, Sherry Tranchemontagne, of Nashua, N.H.; daughters Anne Tranchemontagne of Milford, N.H., Claire and her husband. Pierre Pouliot of Windsor N.H., Chris and her husband, Roger Hagen, of Manchester, N.H., Dr. Terry Tranchemontagne and her husband, Micheal White, of Francestown, N.H.; son Scott and his wife, Joanne Tranchemontagne, of Bedford, N.H.; 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews; his sister, Irene Itabashi of Long Island, N.Y.; brothers George Tranchemontagne of Sanford and and Leon Tranchemontagne of Biddeford.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Jeannette M. Houde

Jeannette M. Houde, 86, of Biddeford, died Monday, May 24, 2010, at Evergreen Manor in Saco.

 She was born in Sanford on July 20, 1923, to Nora Cyr and was educated in Lewiston schools.

Mrs. Houde worked a few years in Lewiston shoe shops and as a hostess at the Poland Spring Inn.

On Nov. 3, 1945, she married Paul E. Houde at St. Peter and Paul Church in Lewiston.

She then worked at Larochelle’s Beauty Salon in Old Orchard Beach before owning and operating Jeannette’s Beauty Salon in Biddeford for more than 25 years.

Mrs. Houde enjoyed traveling, dancing, flower gardening and Gloria Stevens.

She was predeceased by a son, Ronald Houde, in 1953 and a sister, Georgette.

Survivors include her husband of 64 years of Biddeford; two sons, Norman P. Houde of Las Vegas, Nev., and Donald P. Houde and his wife, Debbi, of Biddeford; a daughter, Bonita Lauzon and her husband, Robert, of Biddeford; a sister, Pauline; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Paul Cantara

Paul Cantara, 72, of Arlington, Texas, died Monday, May 24, 2010, surrounded at home by his loving and caring family after a long illness.

Mr. Cantara was born March 15, 1938, in Biddeford to the late Daniel and Helen Hill Cantara. He was a loving and caring husband of Carolyn N. Neault of Arlington for many years. Before retirement, he served a 25-year career in merchandising with Montgomery Ward and Co.

His greatest pleasure was coaching Little League with his sons and daughters. He was a communicant of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church and served in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Cantara was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Daniel P. Cantara Jr.; sister, Janice Roy; and sons, Mark and Brian Cantara.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher M. and Julie Cantara of Bedford; daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Carl Martin; daughter and son-in-law, Liz and Jeff Tufts of Arlington; grandsons, Brandon and Chase Leonard; granddaughters, Kristina and Lauren Martin and Ashley and Brittani Cantara; sister-in-law, Carmen and husband Daniel Boston, of Hyattsville, Md.; nephews, Andrew and Joseph Boston; brother-in-law, Carl Neault of Lowell; and niece, Melanie Neault of Quincy, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to VITAS Innovative Hospice Care or the American Lung Association.