Constance V. Lessard Begin Obituary (1925 - 2017)

Waterville- Constance V. Lessard Begin, 92, passed away peacefully at Woodlands surrounded by her loving family on April 5, 2017. She was born in Waterville on February 5, 1925, the daughter of Treffle and Alice (Gilbert) Lessard. Connie grew up in Waterville and graduated from Waterville High School in 1943. At a friend’s wedding, she met Dorian Begin, who by the end of the reception was introducing her as his future wife. Four weeks later, he proposed, and they were married on August 10, 1946. For 67 years they enjoyed their family of seven children, dancing on Saturday night, playing cards, snowmobiling, square dancing and entertaining many friends and extended family. They raised their family in Fairfield and Benton. At their home in Benton they had yearly Halloween parties and weekly bridge and cribbage games. Long weekends often became camporees with many of their friends camping in the woods by the pool and horseshoe pits. They hosted weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation parties, and many family reunions. Everyone was always welcomed at their home for a friendly game of cards or a dip in the pool on a hot day. Connie worked at the Hathaway and then Keyes Fibre where she retired after 30 years. For a few years in her retirement, she ran a doughnut shop for CMP in Fairfield. Although Connie was unable to achieve her goal of attending college, she always instilled the value of education in her children, and encouraged all around her to reach for their goals. Connie loved to sew and spent many hours making fancy neckerchiefs for the Boy Scout troop. She also made dresses, prom dresses and suits for herself and her four daughters. She enjoyed traveling and was fortunate to go to Hawaii and France among many other places in the US and Canada. Her father enrolled her as lifetime member in the American Legion Auxiliary when she was six years old, where she recently became the oldest member of the Waterville Chapter. She was an active member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish involved in many parish groups, functions and retreats, and later was a communicant of the Corpus Christi Parish. Although she was small in stature, she was a feisty dynamo who was the backbone of the family. Her proudest achievement was raising her children. She instilled the value of family, taking care of one another, education and good work ethics in all. She will be missed by all who knew her. Connie was predeceased by her husband; her parents; sons, Daniel and John Begin; brothers, Armand and Joseph Lessard; and sisters, Mary Lessard, Fernande Fortin, and Gloria Gagnon. Connie is survived by son and daughter-in-law, James and Diane Begin of Benton; daughters and sons-in-law Mary Anne and Bill Trafton of Waterville, Ruth and Pat Berglund of Benton, Dorene Begin and Michael Wright of South Portland, and daughter Susan Crockett of Raymond; grandchildren, Scott, Andy, and Stephen Begin, Danielle Begin Fabian, Aimee Trafton Gilbert, Rusty Flewelling, Dori Flewelling Nadeau, Kurt and Phoebe Crockett; 13 great grandchildren; brother Treffle Lessard; and two sister in laws Vivian O’Donnell and Yvette Begin. We would like to thank Gina Boudreau for her help and friendship to Connie these last few years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Notre Dame Church, Silver St, Waterville. A reception will follow the mass in the Church hall. Burial will be private at a later date at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maine General Hospice, PO Box 828, Waterville ME, 14903 or online at give.MaineGeneral.org/hospice, or to The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, 21 College Ave, Waterville, ME, 04901.