BIDDEFORD — Desneige (Paquette) Frechette, 88, of Biddeford, passed away Monday afternoon, on April 14, 2014, at Gosnell Memorial House in Scarborough.

She was born on Feb. 1, 1926 in St. Honore, Quebec, Canada, a daughter of Edmond and Anne (Begin) Paquette. As a child, she moved with her family to Saco, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1937.

As a young adult, she was employed by Bates Manufacturing, as a machine operator.

She married Paul E. Frechette on April 19, 1951. They moved to Meriden, Conn., where she worked as an assembler for Unimax in Wallingford, Conn. Desneige then moved on to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in North Haven, Conn., as a blades and vanes castor for 18 years, retiring in 1986.

She earned her GED in 1981 at the age of 55.

Her hobbies included playing cards, bingo and puzzles. She was an avid traveler.

After retirement, she moved to Kennebunkport and then to Saco. She was very active at the Senior Citizens Center and the Open Door. She was a parishioner of the former Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Saco.

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Paul E. Frechette, on March 6, 1977; her brothers, Rene, Lucien and Real “Ralph” Paquette; and sisters, Bernadette Houde and Annette Desruisseaux.

Desneige leaves behind: four children, Donald Frechette and his wife Ruth of Florida, John Frechette, with whom she resided in Biddeford, Dorothy Porter and her husband Robert of Florida and Robert Frechette of Connecticut; and her brothers, Armand, Robert, Gerard, Antonio and John Paquette.

She was mémère to: eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Church in Biddeford. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford. To sign the guestbook or leave condolences to the family, go to www.cotefuneralhome.com.