Roberta Julianna Letourneau
Roberta Julianna Letourneau
1942-2020
Roberta Julianna (DeRocher) Letourneau, 78, died on May 21, 2020 of cancer at her son’s home in Lowell, MA.
Roberta was born in Waterville, ME on April 1, 1942, to biological parents Julienne ‘Judy’ (Gandy) Loubier and Roland F. Boyd, and raised by parents Blanche (Bolduc) and Frank J. DeRocher from shortly after her birth. Roberta lived in the Waterville/Winslow, ME area for most of her life.
She attended primary and secondary school at Our Lady of the Mountains Academy in Gorham, NH, graduating in 1960. Roberta met her late husband, John G. Letourneau, while working at the Waterville Osteopathic Hospital, where they both worked for many years. Married in 1963, they raised their four sons in Winslow, where they were both active members of the high school band boosters club. Roberta completed her professional career working at the Maine State Housing Authority, Office of General Counsel, in Augusta, ME for 14 years, retiring in 2004.
Roberta and John were active members of the Central Maine Squares square dance club, where they made many very close and long-lasting friendships, and traveled the country for events and conventions. They also traveled frequently to visit their children and grandchildren in Maine, North Carolina, Connecticut, and Florida. Following John’s death, Roberta lived independently in Winslow, enjoying frequent visits to and from her family, making many quilts (one for each member of the family), spending fun times with her friends, and making many visits to Gifford’s ice cream in Waterville.
Roberta was predeceased by: her husband John G. Letourneau of Winslow, ME (2010); her adoptive father and mother of Waterville, ME (1972 and 1973); her brother Frederick W. DeRocher of Augusta, ME (1985); her biological father of Tewksbury, MA (1980); and biological mother of West Hartford, CT (1997).
Growing up, Roberta always knew she was adopted. She knew and had visits with her biological mother, Judy. It was not until Judy passed that Roberta learned details about her biological father. Roberta then searched for him, discovering that he had gone on to raise a large family in Tewksbury, MA and Boothbay Harbor, ME. While she never met him, she had the opportunity to meet three of her six half-siblings in the Boyd family, including her welcoming oldest half-brother, Jim, and his wife Judie and their family from Nashua, NH. Cared for by one of her sons for the last 18 months, Roberta spent the last part of her life near where her biological father lived much of his life, and where he is buried.
Roberta is survived by her four sons and their families: Marc C. and his wife Elaine (Helie) of Saco, ME, grandson Christian, and granddaughter Lyra; Eric P. and his wife Cheryl (Perkins) of Clinton, ME, grandson Eric Jr. and great grand-daughter Rhiannon, and grandson Dalton; Robert J. and his husband Russell E. Burns of Lowell, MA; and Stephen A. and his wife Erin (Bates), of Cos Cobb, CT/Scarborough, ME, and granddaughters Eliza, Anna, and Isabelle. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, cousins, and five half-siblings.
The Letourneau family offers its gratitude to the hospice care team from Lahey Health at Home, who provided in-home care for the last five months of Roberta’s life, particularly Stacie Lage, Tammy Gray, and Nanci Robinson.
A celebration of life and internment at St. Francis Cemetery in Waterville, ME will occur at a later date. For those inclined to honor Roberta’s memory, donations can be made in her name to The Community Family Adult Day Health Center (ADH) in Lowell (106 Wyllis Avenue, Everett, MA 02149, 978-458-4844), where she enjoyed friendship and support during some of the last months of her life.
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She was a beautiful and kind woman, inside and out. She will be missed and celebrated always.
Beautiful tribute to your beautiful mom you guys ❤️. You’re all in my thoughts and have my heartfelt condolences.
(you knew me as Wendy Gaulin)
Loved the Gang of Three on Eastview – Stay Safe and Be Well.
She was a good cousin for us. We are very happy known her, she always will be in our thoughts, Good courage at all the family Denyse et Roland
Beautiful. A life well lived. Sending much love.
Will sadly miss photos of Roberta’s outings, her beautiful manicures and outfits, and the time she spent surrounded by her furry grandpups. She was so well-loved. Hugs to you, Robert and Russell.
Beautiful tribute, she will be missed!
Such a lovely person and family. I’ll also miss seeing pictures of her enjoying many simple pleasures with you guys. You are always in my thoughts, now more than ever.
What does one say about a LADY? As kind, sweet, giving, loving, funny, friend as anyone would want in life♥️ I was fortunate to be her hairdresser as well as Johns and the boys for many years. Such good customers, caring individuals. I feel I was blessed to have had her as a friend and blessed that she taught me a lot about her love of God. Thank you Robert and Russel for guiding her to her eternal life
She will be missed. She will always hold a special place in my heart.
My Sincere condolences to the whole family.
Your beautiful mom held a special place in that houseful of men. I fondly remember vabysittinf the crew. Prayers for all of you.
So glad to have spent time with Roberta. She was lovely. An absolute pleasure to be with.
Roberta will always be remembered….I’ve taken care of many seniors but she was the only one who laughed at my jokes especially when I said “lickety split” to get her going….she was a beautiful person
It was my pleasure getting to meet your Mom. She was a lovely and gracious lady. Robert, you and Russell provided her a beautiful way to spend her last times. May you both be blessed with peace.
Your tribute was beautiful. I loved Roberta from the moment I met her. Her sweet, gentle ways made her a treasure. I consider myself so lucky to have met her and to have spent time with her. How fortunate we are to have found our family connection and get to know Roberta, Robert, and Russell. You are all such a gift to us. Please know we are right here for you, we are thinking of you, and we love you very much.
Robert your mother was a beautiful woman although I have never met her in person. All the pictures and FB posts about her having her pedicures, ice cream outings and her homemade pies. All those are special memories. I see where you have your mothers beautiful heart. My prayers are always with you and I love you dearly my bilagaanaa son. Our condolences to you and your family.
We were saddened to hear of your Mom’s passing. She was truly lovely and special. Hugs to you and Russell❤
Lovely tribute to a lovely lady. I always enjoyed visits with Roberta. My love to you & Russell and the whole family.
Thoughts and prayer’s to the Letourneau family. Beautiful tribute of your mother. ❤
Such a
Beautiful tribute. Will miss waving at her from the kitchen door. So sorry for your loss. Mom stays forever. No one can replace that. She will always be watching and blessing you both.
Much love to you both ❤️
I grew up not far from your mother. We did not go to the same schools, but I remember that she was related to the Boyd family as I was also. My Uncle was Chester Boyd and I introduced Roberta to my cousin Alison Boyd who now resides in Ma. She phoned me today as she saw the Obit. in her local paper. My condolences to the family.
Annette Jacques
Our deepest sympathy for the loss of your mother. She will be missed by many although we didn’t see much of her in the later years. She was a wonderful lady and such fun to dance with. She and John were some of the first people Rod and I danced with when we started dancing.. I will always hold that in my memories.
The members of Central Maine Squares
Becky Potter
We hope Roberta and John are together square dancing again!
Sincerely,
Diane Weinstein & Claude Francke
Central Maine Square Dance Members
To Robert and the family of Roberta Julianna Letourneau, may your memories serve as a blanket, comforting you in your loss.
Sending love, light, and my condolences.
Robert and family,
Those we hold closest to our heats never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your mother.
Roberta was a loving, sweet woman. I’m glad that she was cared for with great love by her son and his husband. I will always remember her.
Loved Roberta, and loved having the best neighbors ever to grow up with! My thoughts and prayers are with you!
A lovely tribute to a lovely lady. I had the pleasure of working with Roberta at MaineHousing for all of her 14 years!! Sending my sincere condolences to her family, may the wonderful memories you all made with her carry you through the hard days.
So sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. Will always remember all the fun we had with both of your parents back in the high school and drum and bugle days. May all the wonderful memories you have get you through the hard days
A great tribute to a very well liked woman. I will always remember her kindness and willingness to help out during marching band season. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Remember all of the good times and it will help ease the pain of your loss.