George Nicholas

George Nicholas, 78, of Saco, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at Seal Rock Healthcare in Saco after a long illness.

He was born April 23, 1932, in Biddeford to Foni and Aspasia Chippi Nicholas. He was a Biddeford High School graduate.

Mr. Nicholas served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He worked as a salesman in the area for several years and was a tour bus driver for more than 30 years for Trailways and Maine Lines Bus Tours and as owner and operator of Coastal Coach Tours in Saco. He retired in 2002.

He enjoyed his family and friends, working, traveling and being kind to the less fortunate.

Survivors include his son, Peter S. Nicholas and his wife, Angela, of Atlanta, Ga.; three daughters, Stacey Hittle of Saco, Gale Pergande and her husband, Al, of Orlando, Fla., and Susan Smith and her husband, Walter, of Biddeford; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews; and his companion, Jackie Beaudoin of Biddeford.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Patricia Q. Sawyer

Patricia Q. Sawyer, 54, died at her Biddeford home Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, following a long illness.

She was born July 16, 1956, in Newton, N.J., to Hazen and Minnie (Andrus) Quint. She was a 1974 Newton High School graduate and attended college in Bennington, Vt. 

She was a parishioner of Christ Episcopal Church in Biddeford.

On May 23, 1993, she married Jame C. Sawyer in Flagler, Fla. He preceded her in death on June 17, 2003. She moved to Maine in 2004.

She worked as a dietary director in nursing homes in Vermont and Florida for several years until she retired in 2009 due to ill health.

She enjoyed cooking, coloring felt posters and traveling.

Survivors include her daughter, Sarah Martin of Biddeford; one son, Robert Hall and his wife, Megan, of Biddeford; and five grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Pearl H. Perreault

Pearl H. Perreault, 81, of Saco, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford.

She was born Jan. 29, 1930, in Amesbury, Mass., to Edson and Lillian Hardy.

She enjoyed going to yard sales, reading and feeding birds. She especially loved to be with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Perreault was preceded in death by her son, Robert R. Perreault.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Raymond H. Perreault of Saco; her children, Linda L. Shaffer and her husband, Bruce, of Saco, Steven E. Perreault of Biddeford and Peni D. Bedard and her husband, Andre, of Saco; her brother, Robert Hardy, of Florida; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.    

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Barbara McNabb

Barbara McNabb, 91, who lived in Saco nearly her entire life, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, after a brief period of failing health.

She was born Jan. 9, 1920, to the late Virgie Graffam and Charles Jeremiah Sinnott.

The former Alice Barbara Sinnott, who always went by her middle name, graduated from Thornton Academy in 1938 and married John Francis McNabb two years later. They were together until his death in 1986, and made their home in Saco except for a brief move to Connecticut for his work.

Mrs. McNabb’s stamina was put to the test early in the marriage when she gave birth to a daughter, a son and twin boys in the space of three years. Her dedication as a mother was frequently evident during summers when she would pack a lunch and, with her children in tow, walk to the bus stop to catch a ride for an all-day outing at Old Orchard Beach.

With the youngest of their first four children approaching age 10, they started a “second” family, and had a daughter and two sons in the space of four years. She and her husband encouraged all of their children to go to college and were especially proud that all seven earned four-year degrees before pursuing careers and/or advanced degrees.

Mrs. McNabb was a big sports fan and spent many hours watching her children and grandchildren compete. She enjoyed walking, dancing, bowling, swimming and cross-country skiing. She also loved movies, music, the beach, all kinds of crafts, baking and traveling with her family.

Encouraged by family, she learned to drive in her mid-50s after her husband had a health scare. She continued driving into her late 80s, reluctantly giving up the freedom only after family members began noticing dents that she couldn’t – or wouldn’t – explain. Around the same time she moved from her Middle Street home to an assisted-living apartment at Wardwell.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Virgil and Frederick and her daughter-in-law, Lolli McNabb.

Survivors include her seven children, Judith McNabb Gardner and her husband, Laurence, of  Cheshire, Conn., John McNabb of Andover, Mass., David McNabb and his wife, Sheila, of Portland, Dennis McNabb and his wife, Paula, of Great Neck, N.Y., Deborah McNabb Houle and her husband, James, of Scarborough, Stephen McNabb and his wife, Lu Ann, of Centreville, Va., and Jeffrey McNabb of Saco; 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and several cousins.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Edwilda Berthiaume

Edwilda Berthiaume, 93, of Saco and formerly of Biddeford, died Monday, Feb.7, 2011, at Southridge Living Center in Biddeford.

She was born Aug. 29, 1917, in Biddeford to Ephrem and Albertine Lemire Boucher. She was educated at Biddeford High School.

Mrs. Berthiaume was employed by Pepperell Manufacturing and Biddeford Textile for many years.

She volunteered at St. Andre Home and was a member of Dick Martin Community Center. Her hobbies included arts and crafts. During retirement she enjoyed going to Florida with her husband, brothers and sisters.

Mrs. Berthiaume was a parishioner of the former St. Andre Church in Biddeford and a member of the Daughters of Isabella.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph R.C. Berthiaume, on April 24, 2010; her brother, Ralph, and sister, Pauline.

Survivors include three sons, Conrad Berthiaume and his wife, Margo, of Old Orchard Beach; Paul Berthiaume and his wife, Barbara, of Lyman and Gerald Berthiaume and his wife, Jennifer, of Berlin, Conn.; two brothers, Edmund Boucher of Smithfield and Normand Boucher of Kennebunkport; two sisters, Muriel Martel of Biddeford and Isabelle Johnson of Portland; nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.