Rita L. Jean, 89, passed away peacefully with family at her side Oct. 15, 2023, one day after her birthday, at Clover Manor in Auburn. That day she was visited by many family members who followed her written wishes: that she have fresh air, music, and family reading to her. Her grandson Greg played some of her favorite songs on his guitar including Ave Maria and Greensleeves. She was most happy when she was with family.
She was born Oct. 14, 1934 in Lewiston, the oldest of the four children of Simeon and Dorothy Michaud Bolduc: Rita, Joan, Simone, and Peter. She attended local schools and lived in Lewiston all her life except for 12 years during her marriage to Gerard P. Jean Jr. when she lived on Long Island, New York. She returned to Lewiston, Maine in 1967 with their six children, Nancy, Tommy, Karen, Denise, Lisa, and Ninette.
Rita was a Top Ten Honor student at Lewiston High School, graduating third in her class of 200 students in 1952. She took college courses in high school and nursing school entrance exams but put her plans on hold to raise her family.
She worked very hard upon her return to Maine, starting as a certified nurses aide at the VA Hospital in Togus. She continued that work at St. Casimir nursing home after passing her medication technician certification. She was also a statistician at Tri-County Mental Health.
Rita received an “outstanding score” in medical terminology which took her on a career path for the remainder of her working years as a medical transcriptionist. She worked for several doctors and also at several hospitals in Maine. Eventually, she was a medical transcriptionist at home, working remotely for a small business. She attended many American Association for Medical Transcription meetings and symposiums to renew her accreditation.
For several years, Rita was co-owner of The Green Onion sandwich shop with her sister Joan. She was also a notary public and very civic minded.
Rita never put away her dream of becoming a registered nurse and enrolled in a nursing school in Lewiston in the class of 1975. She thoroughly enjoyed and excelled at the class work until an aborted fetus was introduced to the class. She was very much pro life. Her political leanings were for those who were also pro life. She stood up for her beliefs and was a member of the Lewiston, Auburn Right to Life Chapter at St. Louis Church in Auburn. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi international sorority, Kappa Chapter.
The Horizon Committee of the Lewiston Bicentennial Committee was lucky to have Rita as the leader of the Community Gardens project she spearheaded. Under her leadership, the gardens which were open for the community’s use, included two-acre sites at the corner of Sabattus and North Temple streets, and at Ferry Road. She encouraged children to learn to garden.
She was instrumental as a member of the Citizens Bikeway Committee in raising funds for the city’s portion of the cost of the construction of a bike path near Lewiston High School on East Avenue, between Webster and Bartlett streets. Part of their fundraising campaign included the distribution of Bicentennial license plates for bikes to those making specific contributions.
Rita was proud of her heritage, stating that she was “French Canadian through and through” and that she spoke “native Maine French.” She was active in saving pieces of local history including mementoes from the Grand Trunk Railroad Station known as The Depot on Lincoln St. in Lewiston and the textile mills. She purchased and gifted many Bates Mill bedspreads.
Rita put her local history and knowledge of her family’s ties to Quebec into the theme of a play she wrote titled: “Danse Avec La Musique.” The fictionalized historical play features activities common to the experiences of many French Canadians who immigrated to Lewiston from Quebec to work in its mills. Many of those immigrants lived in the “Little Canada” neighborhoods of Lewiston and Auburn.
Rita enjoyed going to garage sales with her mother Dot, her grandchildren, and friends, where she would purchase “great finds” to add to her many collections or to give to others who she thought would appreciate these treasures. She loved listening to French singers, the news, particularly David Muir, doing her civic duty and voting, and attending local Franco-American concerts and activities. She sang in the choir as part of the 1970 Community Little Theater performance of “Camelot.”
Rita is survived by her five daughters: Nancy, Karen (Tom), Denise (Tim), Lisa, and Ninette (Pete); also, 15 grandchildren/partners (and 15 great-grandchildren): Jon/Tiffany (Jon, Kaylee, Landon), Katelyn/Jay, Christopher/Kate (Harper), Stephanie (Angelina, Nevaeh), Karina, Matthew (Emma), Dana Marie, Jeff/Renee, Greg/Erica (Blakeney), Tom/Cameo (Levi, Perla, Lennon), Nicole/Nate (Dean, Brynn), Nick/Suzanne (Lydia, Calvin), Jake/Amanda, and Josh. She is also survived by her sister Simone Blaisdell, and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Rita suffered the heartbreak of losing her 18-year-old son, Tommy, to Hodgkins Disease in 1972 and her 22-year-old grandson, Ryan Guay, in a motorcycle accident in 2006. Her comfort was knowing that she would be reunited with them someday. She was also predeceased by her parents, and siblings Joan and Peter.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Clover Manor and Androscoggin Hospice staff for their compassionate care of Rita.
Visitation will be at the Albert & Burpee Funeral Home, 253 Pine St., Lewiston, on Sunday, October 22, from 2 – 4 PM, with a prayer service at 4 PM. Rita’s wishes are to be cremated after the viewing and her ashes to be buried next to her son’s grave at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lewiston. Memories may be shared at www.albert-burpee.com.