Rachel J. Beaudoin, age 96, died on December 1st. She was born in Brunswick on January 22, 1921, daughter of Ludger and Flora Ouellette. She graduated from Brunswick High School, and later married Edward F. Beaudoin in 1941. They lived for many years on Boody Street, where they raised five children. Rachel lived most of her life in Brunswick, where she maintained many life-long friendships. Both while raising her family and afterwards, she was employed in a variety of jobs, including secretarial positions at Brunswick High School, Naval Air Station, and Brunswick Town Office.

Rachel and Edward enjoyed many activities together, including square dancing, family camping trips to the Maritime Provinces and White Mountains, and spending time at the Ouellette cottage on the New Meadows River. In their retirement years, they traveled extensively, including visits to their children who resided out-of-state. Rachel had fond memories of their travels, and was especially pleased with a train-hopping trip in Europe with daypacks which they did in their 60s. She maintained her card playing skills and regular lunch outings with friends until recently.

Rachel was an unassuming yet strong woman who stoically accepted the challenges of aging, including a long siege with Parkinson’s disease. After 61 years in her Boody Street home, she lived on her own in an apartment at Parkview, then resided at The Highlands in Topsham and at Hill House in Bath She was fortunate to spend most of the last years with her daughter Jeanine in her home on the shore of Merrymeeting Bay in Bowdoinham. Rachel had always wanted to live by the water, and she finally had this wish granted.

She was predeceased by Edward in 1996, by her sister Madeleine Merrill, and brother Donald ‘Pete’ Ouellette. She is survived by her daughter Jeanine of Bowdoinham, and sons- Michael (Portland), Denis (Waldoboro), Peter (Los Angeles), and Thomas (Homer, Alaska), and their spouses/partner, 8 grandchildren, 8 greatgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Her ashes will be co-mingled with Edward’s and scattered by their children at various locations associated with their lives and memories.

A celebration of Rachel’s life will be held at her daughter’s home in the spring (Details to be announced). If family and friends wish, please make a contribution, in her name, to a non-profit organization that provides health and social services to the elderly.