Bridget D. Scontras

SACO – Bridget D. Scontras, a gentle soul, passed to the glory of God with her beloved family at her bedside on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at 2:42 p.m. after a valiant fight with Parkinson’s disease and its complications.

Bridget was born on May 28, 1949 in Biddeford, to Raymond R. and Margaret (Morin) Dupuis as their second daughter. Bridget lived her entire unmarried life in her parents’ apartment building at 23 Storer St. in Saco. She attended Notre Dame School and graduated with honors. Her secondary education occurred at Thornton Academy where she excelled in all academic areas. While at Thornton, Bridget was a member of the Student Council, Glee Club, staff of the school newspaper the “Marooner”, Latin Club, Math Club, Girls Athletic Association, Science Club, National Honor Society, Secretary of her class and later Treasurer.

One Saturday evening as a sophomore in November of 1964, Bridget was attending a school dance in the Linnell Gym with her friends when Peter Scontras, a Thornton senior, asked a female friend to ask Bridget Dupuis if he asked her to dance with him, would she accept. Bridget consented and a 61-year romance began. Later, Peter also asked Bridget if she would attend the Christmas Ball with him. Bridget consented again, and their first date was on Dec. 11, 1964.

After Peter graduated in the class of 1965, he communicated with Bridget daily through notes brought to and from Thornton by his brother, Teddy, who, coincidentally, was in Bridget’s classes. Peter purchased his mother’s ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air car to commute to the University of Maine in Portland and provide a means for Bridget and Peter to attend social functions at Thornton and UMP. Their relationship continued.

Bridget graduated as Valedictorian of the Thornton Academy Class of 1967. She receive the Rensselaer Medal for distinction in the study of math and science. Bridget also received a generous scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute but decided to attend the University of Maine in Orono as a chemistry major and math minor upon her parents’ urging and Peter transferring there.

Fate blessed the couple by assigning them to dorms in the same quad. Their bonds strengthened. Bridget attained Dean’s List status all four years at UMaine.

In 1969, Peter proposed and Bridget consented again. Because Bridget was Catholic and Peter was Greek Orthodox, they discussed their plans with Father Philip Tracy from Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Saco and father Nicholas Liberis of St. Demetrios in Biddeford. As a result, their marriage was held at St. Demetrios on a blistering hot, July Sunday. The couple asked Father Liberis to break tradition and perform the service in English instead of Greek. Previously, every service had been in Greek but Father Liberis agreed and consented to Father Tracy attending and saying a blessing. They were married in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Biddeford on July 26, 1970.

Because Bridget had one more year to complete her studies, they moved to Bangor in a newly constructed subsidized town house on Mt. Hope Avenue. Bridget attended classes at UMaine while Peter taught at Unity Jr. High and Mt. View Jr. High in Thorndike, 45 miles away while traveling on a country road.

After Bridget graduated in the Class of 1971, the couple moved to Saco where their daughter Carol-Anastasia was born, exactly one year almost to the minute of their standing, during their wedding ceremony, before the altar at St. Demetrios. They liked to joke that that was an example of “planned parenthood.” They enjoyed a piece of their wedding cake with Bridget in bed at Webber Hospital.

Peter acquired a teaching position at Somersworth N.H. High School where he taught English and would coach outdoor track.

However, in October of ’71 Peter’s Dad had a third heart attack prompting Peter to leave his teaching position in February to help with the construction end of the family’s homebuilding business. After living in an apartment, they purchased 15 acres of land off the Buxton Road where Peter built their first home.

Two years later, on Aug. 7, 1973, Nicholas P. Scontras II was born. While living in their dream setting, Bridget thoroughly enjoyed planting vegetables to help their young family and showed skill at cultivating flowers resulting in a lifelong passion.

After the family business was affected by the Arab oil embargo in 1974, Peter acquired a position at Saco Middle School, one mile from their home.

Because of Bridget’s connections with her family’s farm, they started breeding sheep and selling lambs for the Easter market.

In 1981, Bridget decided to join the teaching ranks and obtained certification and a teaching position at Massabesic High School in Waterboro teaching chemistry. After six years, she decided that she wished to teach in a smaller school setting as Massaabesic was expanding quickly. Wells High School welcomed her to their staff where she taught chemistry and some physics. In 2013, Bridget retired from Wells High School after 26 years of dedicated teaching. While at Wells, Bridget, for several years, thoroughly enjoyed coaching the Academic Decathlon team. Her students have lauded her on social media sites upon learning of her passing, a testament to her effectiveness as a teacher but also as a compassionate dedicated mentor. Bridget used her humor and wit readily and her former students are testifying to its effectiveness. She mentored them as she did her children.

In 1984, because both their children were attending school in downtown Saco, Bridget and Peter decided to forsake their country home and move closer so their children could walk to school as their parents did. They had resided at 6 Westward Lane for 41 years at the time of Bridget’s passing.

As a supportive parent and loyal TA alumna, Bridget could be seen and heard cheering on Nicky and his teammates during his high school events and while he was competing in Special Olympics around the state. While her daughter, Carol-Ann, achieved noted academic success at the University of Southern Maine and later as a student at Suffolk Law School, Bridget was consistently there with advice, and providing whatever support she could.

After retiring from teaching, Peter reopened the previously popular Way Way Store in Saco. Bridget joined him full-time after her retirement two years later. Together, through their ingenuity, they brought the business into the 21st century despite opening it while the residual effects of the 2008 Great Recession were discouraging entrepreneurs from investing in any new ventures. Yet, Bridget and Peter utilized their skills honed from years of communicating in a public setting and increased the store’s patronage to new levels.

First, Bridget’s patience and ability to smile combined with her sincere conversation and humor resonated with patrons. Reviews from travel blogs and on multiple social media sites along with an increasing tourist base indicated that something exciting was happening within the confines of the old store. Bridget and Peter received recognition not only in the local press but newspapers, TV, social interaction sites throughout New England and nationally when they appeared on Jane Pauley’s popular and award winning CBS Sunday Morning broadcast.

However, Bridget’s appearances at the store dwindled to two or three the past year as Parkinson’s unmercifully sapped her energy while compromising her balance resulting in serious falls that broke her back. On their 55th wedding anniversary, Bridget fell so hard that she fractured vertebrae close to her spinal column. A brutally restrictive but necessary brace was required. She wore it until the day of her passing. Ironically, the most damaging fall occurred on Bridget and Peter’ 55th wedding anniversary.

Occasionally, Bridget would ask Peter if they could go for a short ride so she could regain some perspective. Upon their return she continued her dedication to her family.

As Nicky’s needs grew more challenging, Bridget realized that her hope of attaining advanced knowledge through pursuing academic degrees evaporated. Instead of tending to herself and her social and cultural needs, she sacrificed all that for her children and husband. Since she was an insatiable reader, what little time she had to herself resulted in her reading mystery novels. Bridget had three or four stashed in various locations throughout their home.

If anyone was an example of unconditional love and sacrifice, it was Bridget Scontras. Her “motherly instinct” was never in question. She devoted hours upon hours, day after day without much sleep, providing care, assistance, and attention to her family. Bridget supported Peter in his endeavors and passions and provided a warm nurturing environment for their children. Sometimes housework and a bland meal were the result

but that didn’t deter her from persevering as her love for her family was unconditional no matter the cost.

The tragedy is that despite all of that, her physical health deteriorated slowly until it was evident that something was wrong. Yet, she met that challenge as well, dedicating herself to reading about what she could do, if anything, about its progression. Toward the end she fought using a walker, a cane, and especially a wheelchair.

Last October, Peter insisted, as a family tradition, that she experience the Fryeburg Fair again. When he suggested using a wheelchair, Bridget was against it and initially refused but relented. As Peter and Nicky guided the wheelchair throughout the fairgrounds, Bridget thoroughly enjoyed being amongst all that that fair offers. She didn’t mention that she was tired or it was time to go.

Peter believes she had a sense that the progression of the disease may be accelerating. Occasionally, Bridget would ask Peter to go for a short ride so she could gain perspective. She understood that her energy and attentiveness was fading. Carol-Ann, who would do the shopping, would ask her to come along so her mother could “get out of the house.” She took her mother to her doctor’s appointments when Peter could not. Bridget would return exhausted but thankful. Those were the extent of the outside activities that she permitted herself.

The family had provided a first floor bedroom for her and Carol-Ann administered encouragement and love just as Bridget had done to her. While Bridget was in the ICU, it became apparent that she was weakening quickly. Just as she had tended to them, her family cared for her through their presence and love until God lifted her into his arms. Peter lost the love of his life, her children lost their best friend and a mother who would never abandon them.

Bridget was predeceased by her parents Raymond and Margaret Dupuis; her paternal grandparents Eugene and Rose Dupuis, her maternal grandparents Joseph and Leonide Morin; and brother-in-law, Stephen Rice.

She is survived by her husband, Peter; daughter, Carol-Ann and son Nicholas “Nicky”. She is also survived by sisters Susan Rice and Lynn-Marie Plouffe and their families; several nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States and Canada.

Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. with Trisagion Prayer Service at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, 87 James St., Saco. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saco. Burial will follow in St. Demetrios Cemetery in Biddeford. A reception with light refreshments will be held at St. Demetrios Church Hall after the burial at St. Demetrios Cemetery.

To view Bridget’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.cotefuneralhome.com.

Recently, steady research has discovered a genetic marker that predisposes one to inherit Parkinson’s disease, so, Peter, Carol-Ann and Nicky ask that in lieu of flowers, you donate according to your means, to any legitimate research effort seeking a cure for Parkinson’s disease.