Betty V. Evans

Betty Valentine Evans, 80, of Old Orchard Beach, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.

She was born in Hartford, Conn., to Salvation Army officer parents William and Mary Valentine. During her early years she began taking piano lessons in Pawtucket, R.I., laying the foundation for a life of music. She graduated from Hempstead, N.Y., High School and contemplated a career in music.

Her plans were interrupted by a call to full-time ministry in The Salvation Army and an introduction to another musician, Howard Evans. They married in 1949 and in 1950 entered The Salvation Army’s School for Officer Training in the Bronx, N.Y.

Their appointments took them to Wilmington, Del.; Darby, Pa.; Philadelphia; Portland; New Jersey; Pittsburgh; New York; Hartford, Conn.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Suffern, N.Y. While devoted to The Salvation Army mission she was no less devoted to family and raised five children.

Despite limited formal training, Lt. Col. Evans became an accomplished vocal soloist. After their retirement in 1992, the couple continued their work and established an officer training school in post-communist Russia. They retired to their family summer home in Old Orchard Beach in 1993.

 She continued to play piano for worship services and special occasions and in her final role as songster leader conducted the Old Orchard Beach Songsters in “Holy Ground” at The Salvation Army’s Seaside Pavilion.

Survivors include her husband, Lt. Col. Howard Evans, five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Dennett, Craig & Pate, Saco.

Maureen L. Cantara

Maureen L. Cantara, 42, of Biddeford died Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at Southern Maine Medical Center after a long illness.

She was born Feb. 2, 1968, in Biddeford to Armand and Marie Hebert Bisson and was educated in Biddeford schools.

On Dec. 31, 1999, she married Leo P. Cantara Jr. in Portland.

Mrs. Cantara was a homemaker and in recent years worked at Ray’s Market in Biddeford. She enjoyed reading, scrapbooking, drawing, watching movies, listening to music of Celine Dion and caring for her pets.

Survivors include her husband of 10 years of Biddeford; two daughters, Ashley Whipkey and husband, Dale, and Tracey Laverriere, all of Biddeford; her parents, Marie Hebert-Spulick and her husband, Donald, of Biddeford and Armand Bisson and his wife, Rachel, of Old Orchard Beach; one stepson, Jake Cantara of Biddeford; one stepdaughter, Carrie Cyr of Biddeford; two brothers, Michael Bisson of Charleston, S.C., and Marc Bisson and his wife, Rachel, of Biddeford; three sisters, Ann Palmeter and her husband, Douglas, of Bessemer, Mich., Donna Bisson of Biddeford and Joyce Haas and her husband, Matthew, of Biddeford; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Viola J. Vlahakos

Viola J. Vlahakos, 87, of Saco, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, at the Monach Center in Saco.

She was born Aug. 12, 1923, in Saco to James and Pota Pappaspiridakos Vlahakos. She was a 1941 graduate of Thornton Academy and graduated from Northeast Business School in Portland.

She was employed by Bates Manufacturing in Saco for several years and also worked at General Mills in Portland and Boston. She later moved back to Saco and was employed by Unum Insurance Co. until she retired in 1986.

She was an avid reader and also enjoyed music and traveling. She was a member and past president of St. Fotini Ladies Society. She also was a member and past president of Daughters of Penelope and a member of Sorority of Lacones.

Miss Vlahakos was a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saco where she volunteered for many church activities and was recorder of stewardship.

She was predeceased by her brother, Nicholas J. Vlahakos, and sister, Dorothea J. Vlahakos.

Survivors include two sisters, Helen J. Vlahakos of Saco and Dr. Irene J. Vlahakos of New Britain, Conn.; and several cousins.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Thomas W. Mullen

Thomas “Tommy” W. Mullen, 41, of Saco, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, in Sanford from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

He was born March 26, 1969, in Biddeford to Barbara (Christian) Mullen and the late William G. Mullen. He was a 1987 graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School.

In 1987, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, received infantry airborne training and made several parachute jumps during his four years. He was honorably discharged in 1991.

Mr. Mullen learned the heating business during his 15 years at Champagne’s Energy. He also worked at Garland’s Energy and Jimmy Godbout Plumbing for several years. He was last employed by Mainely Plumbing as a journeyman and licensed gas technician and was preparing to complete his master’s license.

He was a member of the Saco & Biddeford Country Club. He enjoyed playing golf, football, baseball, softball, riding his motorcycle and visiting Laconia, N.H. He loved spending time with his daughter, Alexis, and was especially excited to be great uncle to Kaydience Mullen, born several hours following his death.

He was predeceased by his father, William G. Mullen.

Survivors include his fiancee, Ginger Beaulieu-Mullen of Saco; his daughter, Alexis Mullen of Saco; his mother, Barbara Mullen of Old Orchard Beach; his sister Karen Dunton and her husband, Paul, of Billerica, Mass.; his half-sister, Roxanne Carson; four stepsisters, one niece, two nephews and one great-niece.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Raymond R. LePage

Raymond R. LePage, 88, of Saco, died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010.

He was born Jan. 1, 1922, in Biddeford to Joseph and Obeline Frechette LePage.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. He was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York and did a tour of duty in the Philippines. 

He married Cecelia O’Leary on Sept. 21, 1946, at St. Mary Church in Biddeford.

Mr. LePage had a longtime love of automobiles. He owned and operated Jenny’s Station and LePage’s Auto Sales for 26 years. He also worked for Saco Motors with his longtime colleague and friend Dick Valentino.

His motto in life was “live one day at a time.” He enjoyed the riches his three daughters and three grandsons brought him. Grampy, as he was known, never missed a baseball, soccer, football, hockey game or swim meet. He was especially proud to attend each of his grandsons’ high school graduations. Mr. LePage was a lifelong member of Amvets, Elks and V.F.W. He also served as a notary public for many years.

He was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Cecelia, in 1989, and his sisters, Gabrielle Petit and Pauline Bouffard.

Survivors include his three daughters, Sandy LePage of Portland, Shirley Lavoie and her former husband, David, and Shelley LePage of New York; three grandsons and several nieces, nephews, grand- nieces and grand-nephews.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Mary F. Bertrand

Mary Faith Bertrand, 53, formerly of Biddeford, died unexpectedly in Teaticket, Mass.

She was born Oct. 28, 1956, in Biddeford to Roger and Helen Grant Bertrand and was a 1974 graduate of Biddeford High School.

As a younger woman she worked at Maremont Corp. in Saco. She later drove a bus for the Biddeford School Department and was employed by Maine-ley RVs in Arundel.

She moved to Falmouth, Mass., and most recently was office administrator for the law firm of Thomas Kalperis International in North Falmouth.

She was an accomplished guitarist and enjoyed knitting and the company of her bird, Petro.

Survivors include two sons, Christopher Bertrand of Crestview, Fla., and Jacob Delosh Lano and his wife, Jennifer, of Old Orchard Beach; her parents, of Biddeford; two grandchildren; a sister, Ruby Hussey of Scarborough; four brothers, Roger Maurice Bertrand of Portland, Marcel Bertrand of Biddeford, Douglas Bertrand and his wife, Susan, of Biddeford and Victor Bertrand of Biddeford.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford,.

Simone L. Pepin

Simone L. Pepin, 89, of Peabody, Mass., and formerly of Biddeford, died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, at Peabody Glen Health Care in Peabody, Mass.

She was born Oct. 22, 1920, in Biddeford to Arthur and Mary Ann Rioux Lapointe. She was educated in Biddeford schools.

Mrs. Pepin was a homemaker who enjoyed raising her family. She was a resident of Nashua, N.H., for 34 years. She volunteered as a fundraiser for the Laconia State School in Laconia, N.H., where her son was a resident. She also was a member of Nashua Seniors. In 1993, she moved to Peabody with her daughter.

Survivors include her two sons, Donald Pepin and his wife, Kathy, of Claremont, N.H., and Marc Pepin of Nashua, N.H.; one daughter, Joanne Bates of Peabody, Mass.; four granddaughters and six great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Elizabeth Quinlan

Elizabeth (Lennan) Quinlan, 60, of Biddeford, died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, at Southern Maine Medical Center after an illness with cancer.

She was born May 25, 1950, in Framingham, Mass., to David R. and Ruth (O’Flynn) Lennan. She graduated in 1968 from Lincoln-Sudbury High School in Sudbury, Mass.

 On Jan. 16, 1971, she married John R. Quinlan at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sudbury, Mass. They relocated to Biddeford in 2004 to be closer to her family.

She last worked at Reny’s Department Store in Saco for more than five years before leaving due to ill health. She also worked at the former Rich’s Department Store in Marlborough, Mass.

Mrs. Quinlan was an avid reader and enjoyed listening to classic rock music and keeping up with current events. She loved fashion, which led her to a lifelong career in retailing. She cherished caring for her family and long walks along the beach with her husband.

She was predeceased by her father, David Lennan.

Survivors include her husband of almost 40 years, John R. Quinlan of Biddeford; two daughters, Melanie Sullivan and her husband, Michael, of Westminster, Mass., and Leah Chiaravalloti and her husband, Daniel, of Clinton, Mass.; her mother, Ruth Lennan of Kennebunkport; her sister, Cynthia Hayes and her husband, John, of Kennebunkport; two brothers, David Lennan and his wife, Nancy, of Blackstone, Mass., and Douglas Lennan of Dorchester, Mass; two aunts, four grandchildren, three nieces and one nephew.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.