Simone M. Codere Obituary (1910 - 2012)

Simone M. Codere , 101, died on February 9th, 2012 , at MaineGeneral Medical Center-Thayer Unit, following a brief illness. She was born on November 10, 1910 in Quebec City, PQ, Canada, one of seven children and the only daughter of Jean Baptiste and Clara Poulin Simard. Simone attended parochial schools in Quebec and later became a cosmetologist, working at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City where she met her future husband. They married on June 23, 1936 and moved to Waterville where they raised four children. On February 8, 1945, she proudly received her US Citizenship. For over 30 years, she was employed in retail by the former clothing stores, Emery Brown, Sterns, and Alvina & Delia's, where she had a keen interest in fashion and a desire to meet the public. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Maine Diocese Council of Catholic Women, Daughters of Isabella and the Columbus Guild, Ladies of St. Ann and the Waterville Community Garden Club. She volunteered at Mid-Maine Medical Center Gift Shop and served as a ward clerk in Ward 4, for many years. She enjoyed summers at her camp on Pocasset Lake in Wayne with her family and friends. Since 2007, she was a resident of The Sunset Home on College Avenue. Celebrating her 100th birthday in 2010, Simone was known for her joie de vivre. An avid walker, she was an inspiration to many in her later years. For the past 10 years, she was an active member of The Sunshine Club, a support group for the visually impaired. She was the "Sun" in the Sunshine Family and was truly loved by its members. She is survived by her four children, Kathleen and her husband Warren Judd of Florida; Cyril and his wife Jeanne Codere of Wayne, Roger Codere of North Yarmouth, and Ann and her husband Edward Killeen of Massachusetts; eleven grandchildren, Robert Judd, Susan Vaskalis and her husband Robert, Nathan Judd, Scott Judd, Christina Codere-Plumer and her husband James, Benjamin Codere, Lisa Codere-Lopez and her husband Jesus, Karen Codere, Mark Codere , Amy Killeen and Peter Killeen; five great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews in Canada. She was predeceased by her husband, Cyril R. Codere, who died on March 16, 1982; her parents and six brothers, Armand, Lucien, Roger, Paul, Lauriat and Maurice. Simone's family would like to thank the staff and administration at the Sunset Home for all the loving care and kindness provided to their mother over the last five years. Special thanks to the staff of 2 Central at MaineGeneral for all the care and compassion received by their mother in the last weeks of her life. At Simone's request, there will be no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church, on 72 Pleasant Street, Waterville, on Tues., Feb. 14, 2012 at 1 p.m. Immediately following the service, a reception will be held in the church hall. Donations in her memory may be sent to: The Sunshine Club, Attn: Michelle, Taconnet Federal Credit Union, 316 Benton Avenue, Winslow, ME 04901 or Diane T. Frigon, Regional Director, Region 3, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 21 Enterprise Dr., Suite 2, Augusta, ME 04333-0073 Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville.