SACO — Charlene Thompson, 79, of Saco, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.  

She was born in Portland on Oct. 4, 1935, a daughter of Armand and Julia (Gorham) Boisvert. She graduated from Thornton Academy, class of 1952, earned her Bachelor’s of Science at Gorham State Teachers College (now the University of Southern Maine) and did graduate work at Boston University and the University of Southern Maine.  

Her entire teaching career, spanning over 30 years, was in the Saco school system, where she taught English, literature, and social studies in grades 5-8. She was chair of the language arts department at Burns Junior High School for several years. Charlene was one of the initiators of New Horizons, one of the first programs for gifted and talented students in the state. As an active teacher, she served the Saco Education Association in many capacities, including negotiator and president for several terms. She represented SEA for many years at the Maine Teachers Association Representative Assembly. She served on many MTA committees, including several terms on the board of directors. Charlene was one of the founders and organizers of MTA Women’s Caucus and helped organize and present a series of statewide workshops on non-sexist and non-racist teaching techniques. She represented Maine at the NEA Convention for more than 15 years.  

She was also involved in local and national politics, representing Maine twice as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. 

Following her retirement, she became active in the York County Retired Teachers Association, serving on several committees, and was twice elected as its president. At MRTA, she served as legislative chair, program vice-president and president.  

In other activities, she served for many years as treasurer and was on the board of the Sweetser Lecture Series in Saco. Charlene had been an active volunteer in AARP, serving as liaison to Retired Education Associations in Maine and as its state acting president for 18 months. She was also president of the York County Chapter of the American Association of University Women. She served on several state committees, as well as being its state president.

Her hobbies included reading about different places, then exploring those places; bridge with the ladies; and Sunday dinners with her cherished friends. But most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and her nieces.

She is preceded in death by: one brother Buddy.  

She is survived by: her husband of 56 years, Franklin Thompson; three children, Robert Thompson and his wife Judy, William “Bill” Thompson and his partner Dena Giroux, and Laura Thompson Lewis and partner Jorge Lage; six grandchildren, Tanya, Amber, Allyson, Jason, Caitlin and Hannah; two nieces, Valerie and her husband Jeremy, and Kristin and her husband Matthew; one brother, Theodore “Ted” Boisvert and his wife Theresa; and one sister, Rochelle Fuller and her husband John.  

Visiting hours will be from 3-6 p.m., Monday, March 23, with a funeral service at 6 p.m. that same day, at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco.

Burial will be in the spring. Arrangements are by Cote Funeral Home, Saco. To sign the guestbook or leave condolences go to www.cotefuneralhome.com.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Road, Scarborough, ME, 04074.