Jeannine L. Charest

Jeannine L. Charest, 83, of Kennebunk, died Saturday, June 4, 2011, in Saco.

She was born Dec. 14, 1927, one of four children of Regina Jacques and Darie M. Lemieux of Saco. She attended Notre Dame de Lourdes in Saco, Stella Maris in Biddeford and was a graduate of St Andre High School Biddeford and The Lewis Travel Training School.

She married Leo “Paul” Croteau of Biddeford in 1949. During their time together they were stationed in Nevada with the U.S. Navy. Upon their return to Maine, she became a travel agent for Webber Travel Services at Maine National Bank and her husband worked for Northeast Airlines.

After her husband died in 1963, she continued in the travel agency as vice president and office manager and enjoyed getting to know many clients and traveling to countries throughout Europe and the U.S., Mexico and Caribbean.

In April 1974, she married Dr. Leandre R. Charest of Saco and took on the role of stepmother and friend to his children and grandchildren. The couple continued to travel extensively until they retired to Palm Harbor, Fla., in 1978. They returned to Maine in 1993 and settled in Kennebunk. She was very involved in Saint Martha’s parish in Kennebunk and enjoyed nothing more than time spent with family and friends.

Dr. Charest died in 2002. She also was preceded in death by her sisters, Aline Laliberte and Claire Guerin; and her brother, Albert D. Lemieux.

Survivors include her four stepsons, John L. Charest and his wife, Martha A. Muldoon, of West Buxton; Richard H. Charest and his wife, Frieda, of York, S.C.; James H. Charest of  Winchester, Va.; and Robert L. Charest and his wife, Cynthia, of Westbrook; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law, George Guerin of Wells; sister-in-law, Phidela Lemieux of Napa, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Barbara Mitchell

Barbara Mitchell, 81, of Saco, died Thursday, June 2, 2011, at the Monarch Center in Saco.

She was born July 28, 1929, in Biddeford to Joseph and Sophia Cash Mitchell. She was a lifelong resident of Saco, attended Saco public schools and was a 1948 Thornton Academy graduate.

She was employed for 42 years by New England Telephone Co. in Biddeford and Portland. Following retirement she volunteered for several community organizations, including the Saco Museum where was a docent and The York County Hospice Association, where she worked at Books Revisited in Old Orchard Beach and Biddeford.

She also was a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Saco where she was a Sunday school teacher and volunteered at church dinners and fairs.

She led an active life and from an early age, and she and her sister Ruth took trips to Boston and New York, where they attended plays, toured and shopped. She enjoyed biking, skiing, walking, exercise classes and sunbathing at local beaches. She was an avid reader and especially enjoyed historical novels. She was a member of the Saco Historical Society and Saco Bay Trails and loved taking trips with the organizations and the Biddeford 50+ club.

Miss Mitchell could often be seen at the counter of the Golden Rooster restaurant in Saco, having coffee and finding out the latest local news and politics. One of her greatest joys was summer visits from her nieces who came to Maine for vacations.

She lived at Wardwell Apartments, where she volunteered and attended many cookouts, concerts and group activities. In 2007 she was diagnosed with dementia and moved to the Monarch Center of Saco. During her years there she maintained her independent spirit and never lost her sense of humor or desire to communicate and socialize.

She was preceded in death by sisters Ruth Mitchell Fleming, Bertha Mitchell Hill and Vera Mitchell Benoit; and brother, George Mitchell.

Survivors include her brother, Milton J. Mitchell of Saco, and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Juliza E. McCurry

Juliza E. McCurry, 22, of Biddeford, died Wednesday, June 1, 2011, following an auto accident in Lyman.

She was born July 23, 1988, in Portland to Timothy H. Ware and Ronda P. Fernald. She was educated in Alfred and Sanford. 

She worked as an LPN at Granite Bay Care in Berwick and also at Kennebunk Rehabilitation and the Shaw House in Biddeford.

On Nov. 9, 2005, she met Arthur McCurry in Sanford; they were married a year later on Nov. 14, 2006, in Springvale.

Mrs. McCurry enjoyed the sun and the beach especially when spending time with her daughter, and had recently taken up motorcycling.  She had a zest for life and an optimism that made everyone’s day brighter.

Survivors include her husband, Arthur, and daughter, Keyarrah, of Biddeford; her father, Timothy H. Ware of Hollis; her mother, Ronda Belmont of Shapleigh; her brother, Theodore H. Ware of Biddeford; her half-sister, Tameca Fernald of Biddeford; her maternal grandmother Elaine Adriance of Waterboro; her maternal grandfather Maurice Fernald of Casco; her paternal grandmother Sandra C. Parsons of Sierra Vista, Ariz. and Brookings, Ore.; her paternal grandfather Willard T. Ware of Limerick; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Robin McCurry of Biddeford.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Robert J. Raymond

Robert J. Raymond, 55, died unexpectedly at his home in Land O Lakes, Fla., on Sunday, May 8, 2011.

Mr. Raymond was born June 18, 1956, in Biddeford to Ernest and Jennie (Paradis) Raymond.

His earliest years were spent in Scarborough and he attended St. Louis Home, where his father, Ernest, was caretaker for many years. He finished his freshman and sophomore years at Scarborough High School. It was in the fields and woods of Scarborough that he developed his everlasting love of the outdoors.

In 1972, he moved with his parents and siblings to Biddeford, where he graduated from Biddeford High School in 1974. While in high school, he played in his first band, Quick Silver. Mr. Raymond was an accomplished, self-taught musician and singer who played guitar, keyboard and drums. His favorite instrument was the guitar, which he continued to play until his death.

He married young and moved to Springvale.  He was a creative carpenter and craftsman, and built his family home where he and Julie raised two daughters, Karrilee and Hannah. He was a devoted father, who nurtured and loved his children greatly.

Mr. Raymond worked at Pratt Whitney Aircraft in South Berwick, where he was an aircraft machinist for 26 years.

In the 1990s, he built his own home at Horn Pond in Acton, where he fished, boated, swam, rode the ATV and played horseshoes.

In 2005, he lost his daughter, Hannah. He subsequently moved to Florida, where he resided until his death.

He is survived by his daughter Karrilee Raymond of California; his mother, Jennie Raymond,  his sister, Patricia St. Pierre, and brother, Bryan Raymond, all of Biddeford; his sisters  Christine Redland of Kennebunk and Ella Raymond of Cortez, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. at 6 Pinewood Circle, Biddeford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Biddeford High School, c/o Vicki Salo, treasurer, music department, 20 Maplewood Ave., Biddeford, ME 04005.