Doris Rita Lafortune
SACO – After nearly 79 years of kindness, love, and devotion to her loved ones, Doris Rita Lafortune of Saco passed away peacefully at her home on August 5, 2022, with her family at her side.
Doris was born on Shevenell’s Court in Biddeford on November 6, 1943, the daughter of Rosaire and Diana (Sicard) Laliberte. She was one of 6 children and was schooled in the St. Joseph’s school system, graduating from high school in 1962. She was a favorite neighborhood babysitter during her school years.
She was a woman of deep faith, quiet dignity, and unlimited love for her family and friends.
She was also passionate about continuous learning and constantly improving herself.
Her husband frequently called her his “Butterfly” going through stages of development.
Never one to call attention to herself, she nevertheless left a positive imprint on those she met.
She married Raymond Lafortune of Biddeford on August 14, 1965 in St. Joseph’s Church in Biddeford. Her favorite song was You’re My Best Friend, sung by Don Williams. This song personified what Doris and her husband meant to each other:
You’re my bread
when I’m hungry
You’re my shelter
from troubled winds
You’re my anchor
in life’s ocean
But most of all you’re
my best friend
When I need hope
and inspiration
You’re always strong
when I’m tired and weak
I could search this
whole world over
You’d still be everything
that I need
She was most recently a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church in Saco.
She carried her high school choir singing talents through life and was at different times a choir member at St Joseph’s, Notre Dame, and St Andre’s churches. She was also a choir member for Christmas services at Most Holy Trinity Church.
Upon high school graduation, she apprenticed in a local beauty salon. She practiced hair styling for 28 years, with the last 15 years providing a service to the elderly and homebound in the local community. She leant a compassionate ear to her clients. Her fluency in French made her especially welcome in many homes. She was always ready to help friends and family get their children groomed for school or ready for special events in their lives. One could always rely on Doris caring for others.
At age 50, she decided to make a life change, so she enrolled in the Portland Adult Education Program and earned a Secretary Certificate. With those skills, she became an employee of Unum, where she worked in Customer Support for 10 years. Her outstanding work ethic led her to become one of Unum’s first tele-workers.
She loved to read books and news articles, driven by her desire to increase her knowledge of the world around her.
She was the matriarch of her family, playing a highly-valued role in the lives of her husband, children, and grandchildren. Her home was the hub for family celebrations, and her cooking talents were many. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she loved to shop for and give gifts to family and friends. She would spend countless hours finding the perfect gifts and cards for each.
Maintaining family traditions was very important to her. She was happiest when her kids and grandkids were at her home for holidays.
When her children and grandchildren left for college, there was no distance too far for her and her husband to drive for a visit.
She followed the extracurricular sport and music activities of her children and then her grandchildren. The last several years, she was a regular in the bleachers of Thornton Academy and the Biddeford Ice Arena. When her illness led to wheelchair mobility and oxygen tanks, she still attended games. The grandchildren could also always expect a question on how well they were doing in school.
She had many cherished friends, including high school and Unum friends who, until her ill health, she met for get-together dinners.
Doris and her husband enjoyed traveling with their children, always with a purpose to show them a world beyond their home. One of her favorite early family trips was traveling to California and Mexico. She later enjoyed trips to Hawaii, California, Oregon, and many trips to Disney World with her children and grandchildren. Her favorite was a trip to the West Coast, coinciding with her 50th wedding anniversary, accompanied by her husband, children, and grandchildren to Disneyland, and culminating with attendance at a grandchild’s baptism in Portland, Oregon.
Her love of travel was not solely with family, as she and her husband went on yearly bus trips with friends to Canada, as well as a memorable trip to Branson, Missouri.
Over the last year, progressing illness immobilized this very active woman. Once again, this Butterfly transitioned to enjoying the freedom of birds, especially hummingbirds and cardinals, from her windows and porch.
Doris was predeceased by her parents; her brothers Raymond of South Portland; Roger of Saco; and sister Joanne of Saco, who she cared for until her passing.
She is survived by her loving husband, Raymond; her son Kevin and his wife Carla of Saco; her daughter Karen and her husband Robert Parenteau of Saco; and her son Keith and his wife Felicite Lamb of Portland, Oregon; and grandchildren Alexander, Rose, Noah, Jacob, Caleb, Calvin, and Elliot; her brother Norman and wife Fran, and sister Connie Wentworth.
Visiting Hours will be from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, Saco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 11, 2022, at St. Joseph Church, Biddeford. Burial will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.
To view Doris’ memorial page or leave and online condolence, please visit http://www.cotefuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people donate to
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
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