Rene Guite Obituary (1916 - 2012)

Rene Guite, 95, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side at Mount St. Joseph on Feb. 3, 2012. He was born May 18, 1916 in Maria, Quebec, Canada the son of Joseph and Winnifred Guite. He was the 12th of 15 children. He was educated at local and technical schools in Canada. He was very proud of his French Canadian heritage. In Nov. 1940 he volunteered with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Unit. A D-Day survivor, he landed at Juno Beach in Normandy with the Canadian forces on June 6, 1944. He returned to civilian life in Dec. 1945. He moved to Waterville in 1946 and began working at C.F. Hathaway Co. in 1949. He was promoted to superintendent of maintenance for all Hathaway plants and retired June 1, 1981. He remained as an electrical and mechanical consultant for the company until Nov. 1996. He was a licensed master electrician and oil burner specialist. In 1956 Rene was part of the group who started St. Francis de Sales Credit Union and served on the Credit Committee and Board of Directors for many years. He also lended his mechanical and electrical expertise to the Sunset Home, Oak Grove Coburn School and Camp Tracy. He was a past member of the YMCA Management Club, Exchange Club and Waterville Lodge of Elks #905. He was always ready to help someone in need. On June 28, 1947 he married the love of his life, Theresa Bourque. They shared a wonderful life in Waterville for the last 64 years. However they had a love for the Winslow Black Raiders and the sports teams and events that their grandchildren were participants. As a married couple they also loved ice hockey, Rene the Montreal Canadians and Theresa, the Boston Bruins. It was always interesting in the household when these two teams played each other. A loving husband and devoted father, Rene absolutely adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His face always lit up when they came to see their beloved pepere. Rene is survived by his loving wife, Theresa; daughters, Joyce Vigue-Morrissette and husband Paul Morrissette of Winslow and Linda Hall-Huard and husband Louis Huard of Winslow; grandchildren include Derek Vigue and wife Heather of Fairfield, Jared Vigue and fiance Cristina Petrolli of Munich, Germany, Megan Vigue and fianc Mario Fossa of Winslow, Renee Hall of Portland and Rachel Hall of Boston, MA.; great-grandchildren, Abbie and Lucas Vigue of Fairfield; three sisters, Berthe age 98, Geraldine age 94 and Simone age 92 of New Richmond, Quebec, Canada; several special nieces and nephews including Real Cyr of Winslow who was like a brother to him, Sister Dorothy Bujold of Bingham. He was predeceased by his parents and 11 siblings, Antonio, Edward, Rev. Gerard, Joseph, Raymond, Blanche, Eveline, Julia, Angelie, AnneMarie and Maria. The family would like to thank Dr. David Preston, his nurse, Debbie and staff of Mid-Maine Internal Medicine for the excellent care that Rene received over the years. As Rene came to terms with his own death he recently told Dr. Preston "I've outlived five doctors and two dentists but you have always been very special to me." Special thanks to the staff of 2 Central, 2 South rehab of MaineGeneral Thayer Unit and Mount St. Joseph for all their care and compassion to our husband, father and grandfather. At Rene's request there will be no visiting hours. A Celebration of Life and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument St. in Winslow on Sat., Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. Immediately following the service, a reception will follow at the Waterville Lodge of Elks, Industrial Park Road, Waterville. A spring burial will take place at the Canadian Legion Lot in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville. Donations in Rene's memory can be made to the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, 101 Silver St., Waterville, ME 04901 or to Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, 28 Ticonic St., Waterville, ME 04901. Arrangements are with the Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.