Paulette M. (Fredette) Leveille, 81, of Berlin, passed away on Wednesday January 10, 2018 at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital. She was born in St. Felix de Kinsey, P.Q,, Canada on June 9, 1936 the daughter of the late Roger and Florence (Morin) Fredette and was the 3rd eldest of 10 children. Her family later moved to Richmond, PQ, Canada and she worked at Brown Shoe. On June 5, 1954, she married Armand Leveille and they moved to Berlin in September of 1956. She was the only one of her family to move to the United States so the trips to and from Canada were plenty, happy and well received. Her children were raised knowing all of the close-knit Canadian family members and were affectionately greeted as “the little Americans” by some.
Her extended Leveille family always welcomed her with open arms. She was an important person to them as well as in-laws or cousins. Paulette was a stay at home mom to her 4 children and once raised, she returned to the work force. She worked at Bass Shoe, Gamm Cutting and Demers Dry Cleaners, retiring in 1993. Soon after she retired, she had her first bout of cancer. During the next 10 years, she battled 3 other cancers. Due to a clinical trial study with Dr. Barth at Dartmouth Hospital, she has been in remission for the last 15 years which her family is most thankful for. Cancer never dampened her spirit. Her faith and convictions carried her through it all. She had been active at Guardian Angel Parish and later Good Shepherd Parish. Until just recently, she would be seen taking her almost daily walks up and down Grafton St., around the Cleveland Bridge and Main St. wearing her chapeaus.
She will be remembered as a beautiful person inside and out, the best mom, grandmere, aunt and friend to many. She was the best homemaker, bread maker and seamstress. She always took the time to stop and visit, play cards with relatives, go line dancing with Francoise and Friends, nurse her children after surgeries and grandchildren when they were sick. Her family was her pride and joy and the word “No” did not exist when it came to her family. She will be greatly missed by them. She was so thankful that she not only saw all of her grandchildren graduate from high school but from college as well while she was in remission.
She is survived by her husband, Armand Leveille of Berlin; her children and their partners Line Host and Mark Gross of Jefferson, Joane Belleau and Shawn Sullivan of Berlin, Gisele Leveille and Ernie Lozeau of Gorham and Richard Leveille of Gorham; 6 grandchildren Leah Belleau, Melanie Belleau Ohlin, Beth Host, Emily Host, Brian Croteau and Kevin Croteau; 4 great grandchildren Alaina Ohlin, Ethan Croteau, Coen Rano and Julie Smith and another girl due in February; siblings and their spouses Ghislaine Fredette, Yvan and Solange Fredette, Lorraine Martel, Jean Paul and Irene Fredette, Andre Fredette and Michiline, Noella and Michel Letourneau, Pierre Fredette and Suzanne all of Canada; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by sisters Lise Fredette and baby Charlotte Fredette.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday January 15, 2018 at 10 AM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish. Interment will be in the spring. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. Online guestbook at www.bryantfuneralhome.net.