Ralph D. Croteau

Ralph D. Croteau, 73, of Biddeford, died Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice in Scarborough.

He was born June 15, 1938, in Saco, to Joseph and Claudia (Martineau) Croteau and attended Saco schools.

On Sept. 13, 1958, he married Fernande Roberge at St. Joseph Church.

Mr. Croteau owned and operated Ralph’s Garage in Old Orchard Beach from 1970 until 1985. From 1985 until 1998 he was employed by Alpha Carbide in Saco and was most recently was employed at the Maine Mall Food Court. He retired two years ago.

He was a former member of Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Saco, Old Orchard Beach Lions Club and Camp Ellis Rod and Gun Club. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and following the Red Sox, football and horse racing.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Emilien “Pete” and Raymond Croteau, and six sisters, Yvette Labonte, Lillian Cyr, Rachel Laflamme, Fernande Paige, Laurette Ouellette and Therese Croteau.

Survivors include wife of 52 years, Fernande Croteau of Biddeford; one daughter, Christine Clapp and her husband, Kenneth, of Biddeford; two sons, David Croteau and his wife, Julie, of Hollis and Gary Croteau and his wife, Pamela, of Old Orchard Beach; four brothers, Norman Croteau of Saco, Wilfrid Croteau of Old Orchard Beach, Robert Croteau of Saco and Gerard Croteau of Arundel; three sisters, Evelyn Menard of Seekonk, Mass., Jacqueline Robson of Virginia and Simonne Doyon of Old Orchard Beach; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Brenda L. Palmer-Goodridge

Brenda L. Palmer-Goodridge, 52, of Windham, died Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough after an illness with cancer.

She was born July 28, 1958, in Biddeford to William W. and Priscilla R. Ledoux Palmer. She was educated in Biddeford schools and graduated in 1976.

On July 20, 2002, she married Steven R. Goodridge in Windham.

She worked for Nike Shoe in Biddeford and 25 years at Hannaford Bros. in Biddeford, Scarborough and Windham. She retired in 2009 due to ill health.

She enjoyed her home and being there with family and friends, gardening and doing crafts.

Survivors include her husband, of Windham; her son, Evan W. Chamberlain of Windham; her stepson, Garrett S. Goodridge of Windham; her parents, of Biddeford; two brothers, Wayne D. Palmer and his wife, Cheryl, of Arundel and Brian K. Palmer of Old Orchard Beach; one nephew and niece and several aunts and uncles.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Stella K. Antonakos

Stella K. Antonakos, 95, of Biddeford, died Saturday, July 16, 2011.

She was born Aug. 23, 1915, in Saco, the third of seven children of Kostas and Maria Daoutakos Antonakos and their first child born in the United States. She attended Saco and Biddeford schools and was the 1934 class valedictorian at Biddeford High School.

She worked at the family store and Pepperell Textile Co. and then at Lunder Shoe Co. as a bookkeeper until she retired at age 79.

She enjoyed watching the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics on television, but her favorite teams were the Biddeford High School Tigers. Her first love was to her extended family and always enjoyed hearing about all of their achievements.

Miss Antonakos was predeceased by her parents and three brothers, Arthur, Peter and Christo and two sisters, Helen Soucaras and Carolyn Padhaisky.

She is survived by her sister Antoinette Mendros, of Saco, with whom she most recently resided; her sister-in law, Pat Antonakos; 14 nieces and nephews and many grand nieces, grand nephews, great- grand nieces and great-nephews.

Arrangements were by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.

Linda A. Belanger

Linda Ann Belanger, 60, of Arundel, died Friday, July 15, 2011, at Hyder Hospice House in Dover, N.H., with her family by her side.

She was born Aug. 25, 1950, in Biddeford to Jean Paul and Eleanor Ruth (Harmon) Poirier. She attended local schools.

She was a former communicant of St. Martha Church in Kennebunk.

On Aug. 3, 1966, she married Normand Belanger in Wells. He died in 2008.

She worked for her husband as a bookkeeper and accountant for many years.

Mrs. Belanger loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed playing cards, board games and listening to music. Some of her favorite places to visit were the rocks in Kennebunk at sunset to fish and the mountains during fall to view foliage. She also loved watching and feeding the birds and animals that visited her yard.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Survivors include two daughters, Tammy Belanger and her fiancé, John Campbell, of Milton, N.H., and Penny Belanger of Arundel; three sons, David Belanger, Danny Belanger and Scott Belanger and his wife, Robyn, all of Arundel; five brothers, Dick Poirier and his wife, Dot, of The Villages, Fla., Ronald Poirier and his wife, Pauline, of Saco, Dave Poirier and his wife, Margo, of Biddeford, Bob Poirier and his wife, Kitty, of Williamsburg, Va., and Mike Poirier and his wife, Karen, of Windham, N.H.. one sister, Dorothy Jarry and her husband, Lenny, of Shapleigh; and eight grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Avis L. Labbe

Avis L. Labbe, 68, of Biddeford died Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Seal Rock Healthcare in Saco after a long illness.

She was born Sept. 14, 1942, in Biddeford to Lester and Catherine Casey Curtis. She was a 1960 graduate of Biddeford High School.

On May 30, 1961, she married Richard E. Labbe in St. Andre Church in Biddeford.

Mrs. Labbe worked for several years as a bookkeeper in the offices of Central Maine Power Co. and York Heel Co. in Saco. She worked 15 years with at County Counseling Services in Saco and retired in 2004. She last worked eight years at St. Andre Health Care Facility in Biddeford and Seal Rock Healthcare in Saco.

She also volunteered for Biddeford Band Boosters. She enjoyed reading, her personal computer and her 2002 trip to Las Vegas.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years of Biddeford; one daughter, Doris Boucher and her husband, Jeff, of Biddeford; one sister, Ida Michie of Saco; one grandson and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Leo F. Gauthier

Leo F. Gauthier, 78, of Biddeford, died Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Seal Rock Healthcare with his family at his side after a lengthy illness.

He was born Nov. 27, 1932, in Biddeford. He attended Biddeford High School before enlisting in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He served for three years and earned his GED.

He married Cecile E. Nadeau on May 30, 1955, and they recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.

Mr. Gauthier worked at West Point Pepperell, Saco Tanning, Donovan and Donovan Vending, Maine Hardware and Mill Rock. He loved playing fast pitch softball and was on many teams, including the Navy, Eastern Club, Merchant Express, Rochambeau Club and Saco Tanning. He also coached some of the teams to the final round of the state championships. He was a member of the St. Louis Alumni Association. He loved all sports and was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan.

Survivors include his wife, Cecile E. Gauthier of Biddeford; one brother, Jerry Quintin of Bristol, Conn., and his wife, Violet; daughter Grace J. Ward of Old Orchard Beach and her husband, Thomas J. Ward; and son Michael L. Gauthier of Biddeford and his wife, Helen Gauthier; and many cousins, nephews, nieces and great-nephews and great-nieces.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Mabel P. Knowles

Mabel P. Knowles, 91, of Old Orchard Beach, died Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Biddeford.

She was born April 15, 1920, in Livermore and was raised in Livermore Falls. She attended school there and graduated from high school in 1938.

On Dec. 23, 1939, she married James S. Knowles and they were married 67 years. He died in October 2006.

She worked at the Chuck Wagon in Livermore Falls and at the Biddeford Saco Country Club for many years. She traveled to Italy in the 1970s to visit her daughter, Geraldine, in Sicily and she and her husband spent winters in Florida and California.

Mrs. Knowles enjoyed having projects and keeping busy. She loved working with plants and flowers and taking care of their retirement home in Old Orchard Beach. She also had many cherished pets that she cared for over the years.

She is survived by her three children, Constance Linda, Geraldine June and James S. Knowles II; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Lorenzo Beaudoin

Lorenzo “Larry” Beaudoin, 96, of Seal Rock Healthcare in Saco, died Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at Southern Maine Medical Center, surrounded by his family.

He was born Sept. 30, 1914, in Biddeford to Norbert and Rosilda (Larochelle) Beaudoin. He attended local parochial schools, St. Jean Bechman Prep School in Quebec City, Canada, and Mt. Eymard Seminary in Suffern, N.Y.

He was a former communicant of St. Andre Catholic Church in Biddeford.

He worked at a local textile mill and Saco Lowell Shop during the 1930s and spent war years working at New England Shipbuilding Corp. in South Portland. 

After the war, he returned to Saco Lowell, where he worked in labor standards and the manufacturing instructions sections of the industrial department until 1958, when the company moved its textile machinery fabrication division to Easley, S.C.

He then joined Raytheon Co. in Andover, Mass., where he held a number of assignments within the industrial engineering department. He also represented Raytheon on a special assignment in Europe for NATO’s implementation of the HAWK missile system.

In the early 1970s he was appointed supervisor of Value Engineering, and chairman of the Andover plant cost reduction committee, a position he held until his retirement in 1978.

Mr. Beaudoin enjoyed choral music and helped organize and directe local men’s glee clubs.

He also participated in the organization of the Saco Lowell Employees Federal Credit Union and was its treasurer and manager more than 10 years. He founded St. Andre Credit Union and served in various volunteer capacities for many years. Each credit union broadened its membership and now are called Saco Valley Federal Credit Union and Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union.

In addition to the travel associated with his work, he and his wife exchanged several visits with their son, Raymond, and his family, who reside in England.  He was a third-degree member of Knights of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his four sisters,Yvette Bouchard, Lina Fecteau, Simonne Marchand and Claire Cote.

Survivors include his wife of 76 years, Germaine (Thibodeau) Beaudoin; two sons, Raymond and his wife, Carol, of England and Lionel “Norman” and his wife, Therese, of Biddeford; two grandsons, Marc of Arundel and Paul of England; four grandchildren, one great-grandson and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Shirley Lewis

Shirley Lewis, 92, formerly of Saco, died Saturday, July 9, 2011, at Southridge Living Center with her daughter by her side.

She was born Aug. 5, 1918, in Newton, Mass.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, E. Albert Lewis.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Mazaros of Saco.

Arrangements were by Hope Memorial Chapel, Biddeford.

Stanley B. Austin

Stanley B. Austin, 58, died Monday, June 27, 2011, in Jackman.

He was born April 21, 1953, in Portland to Robert and Norma (Boyd) Austin. He attended Westbrook  schools and University of Southern Maine in Portland.

Survivors include his wife, Brenda J. (Daniels) Austin of Saco; two children, Jessica Austin of Portland and George Austin and his wife, Kate O’Toole, of Boston; his father, Robert Austin of Westbrook; his sister, Bonnie Austin of Bridgewater, Mass.; his brother, Keith Austin and his wife, Beth, of Windham; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Giberson Funeral Home, Bingham.