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Lorette Marchand, 80, of Augusta, ME previously of Scarborough ME, died June 11, 2004 at Maine General Nursing Care - Glenridge. After several years in Portland, ME and Albuquerque, Lorette recently settled at Capital City Manor in Augusta before being debilitated by a stroke on May 19, 2004 four days before her 80th birthday. Lorette was born in Franklin, NH on May 23, 1924, to Leonce Marchand and Alphonsine Poirer Marchand, both originally of eastern Canadian provinces. Raised in NH and Northfield VT, the family settled in Ipswich, MA during Lorette's teen years. A January 1948 graduate of Boston's Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing, she was then selected for her state to attend Brooke Army Medical Center's Field Service School Officer's course in Fort Sam Houston TX, completed April 1949. During this time she met her husband of 25 years, George Arthur Lopes, marrying on July 9, 1949. As an Air Force wife, she moved her children to places as diverse as Greece, Germany, Japan, FL, TX, ND, and LA. Divorced in 1975 while a resident of Fryeburg ME, she went on to pursue her bachelor's degree from University of New Hampshire in May 1976, and a few years later became a proud MSW alumna of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in May 1979. Lorette embraced the many cultural and artistic offerings found in her ,travels. Family trips always included new museums and interesting restaurants; and many local symphonies and art museums counted her as an enthusiastic member. Saturday afternoons at home always meant the Texaco Metropolitan Opera broadcast, and her walls were adorned with original work by local artists. Throughout her life, Lorette made close friends who cherished her, as she cherished them. She maintained her lively wit and humor throughout her final days, and most recently enjoyed her birthday celebration with family. She is survived by her three children, Nadine Marchand of Mt. Vernon ME, Larry Lopes of Biddeford ME, and Lora Nielsen of Boston MA, and their families, including four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She also leaves her three siblings, Hilda Burke of Stafford Springs, CT, Leonce Marchand of Topsfield MA, Louis Marchand of Gloucester MA, and their families. She was predeceased in 1995 by her beloved son, Arthur Lopes of Albuquerque NM; and her devoted Maine coon cat of 18 years, Jalbert Marchand. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Avenue, Portland ME. Memorial donations may be made to the UNE Westbrook Art Gallery, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME 04103, or The Santa Fe Opera, PO Box 2408, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2408.
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