BRUNSWICK — Violet Elizabeth (Dionne) Vaillancourt, known to loved ones simply as Vi, passed away peacefully on Feb. 12. She was 92.

Born in Topsham on January 14, 1926 to Joseph Cyprien Dionne, of Canada, and Blanche Amelia Bernier Dionne of Brunswick, Vi grew up in Brunswick and attended local schools.

Her father died when she was 11 and she later dropped out of high school to help her mother provide for their family. Her mother later remarried Louis Tetreault, who Vi came to view as a father and a grandfather to her own children.

In her younger years, Vi loved to roller skate. In fact, that’s how she met her husband.

Her older sister Florence persuaded Vi to accompany her on a date she had planned with a young man named Mitchell, who would bring a friend for Vi.

By the end of that night, though, Mitchell was more interested in Vi and they were together from that moment on.

They married on May 19, 1945 while Mitchell was on medical furlough from the U.S. Army during World War II. They celebrated 64 years together before he died in 2010.

Vi and Mitchell had six children and raised them in a Brunswick home he had built.

Even though she never achieved a high school diploma, Vi valued education for her children and always supported them and made sure their homework was done.

She worked as a waitress and then found secretarial work at the Chief ’s Club of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, Auerbach Shoe, Jordan Acres Elementary School and finally for her husband’s business, Vaillancourt’s Auto Body Shop.

Family always came first for Vi. Even though she couldn’t swim, she loved the water. She and Mitch had a boat and they would rent a lakefront cottage every summer when their children were young.

In later years, she enjoyed traveling to California to visit her son Dennis and his family.

She loved crafting and quilting; crossword puzzles and game shows; card games and chocolate. Anything chocolate. Sometimes an entire meal of chocolate.

She always read the “National

Enquirer.”

In retirement, she became an accomplished candlepin bowler and often competed in leagues. Her skill was unassuming because of her small stature and the fact that she rolled the balls uncommonly slowly. But her aim was always straight.

She never liked the word goodbye and so she made up her own farewell: “See you bum-bye.”

Vi was predeceased by her loving husband, Mitchell Vaillancourt; a daughter, Debra Jean Vaillancourt; sister Florence (Dionne) Stewart, brother Alcide Dionne, and son-in-law, Joseph Alexander.

She is survived by five children: David Vaillancourt and wife Kathleen of Augusta; Dennis Vaillancourt and wife Cathy of San Jose, California, Richard Vaillancourt and wife Becky of Brunswick; Susan Alexander of Brunswick; and Robert Vaillancourt of Londonderry, N.H.; as well as 16 grandchildren and 32 greatgrandchildren with one more on the way.

Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19 at Bracket Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant St., Brunswick. Reception will follow at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen St., Brunswick.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Condolences can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.