Joanne Frances (Maguire) Guillemette Obituary (1937 - 2021)

Augusta- Joanne Frances (Maguire) Guillemette, 83, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2021, at Glenridge Long Term Care Nursing Home in Augusta, Maine. After a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease, she is finally home again. Joanne was preceded in death by her loving husband of 39 years, Maurice Roland Guillemette, MD, and by her second husband, Joseph Patrick Reardon, the childhood sweetheart who brought joy back into her life after being widowed. She was also predeceased by her brother, James Maguire, and her brother in-law, Jean Paul Guillemette. Joanne is survived by her sisters Margaret and Rachael Maguire, as well as her sisters- in-law Nancy Maguire and Lillian Guillemette. She leaves behind her children, Michael Guillemette, Gretchen (Timothy) Franz, Marc (Karen) Guillemette, Marcia (Robert) Rechholtz, David (Nina) Guillemette, James (Elizabeth) Guillemette, and Jane (Ramon) Cheleuitte. She also leaves her grandchildren, Ashley, Joseph, Justin, Ethan, Isaiah, Domingo, Caleb, Emily, James, Mair, Hannah, Ralph, Charlie, and Natalie, her great-grandchildren, Gordon, Gregor, Orion, and Leah, and her niece, Remy. Joanne was born on May 9, 1937, in Lewiston, Maine. She was the eldest of four children born to Francis and Adelaide (Baril) Maguire. Joanne lived in Auburn throughout her childhood and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1955. Not long after graduation, she worked as an X-ray technician for Central Maine Medical Center. While working there she met the love of her life, the young resident, Dr. Maurice Guillemette. Maurice and Joanne married in 1958 and settled in Augusta. While Maurice was busy building his medical practice, Joanne was busy doing what she loved best, raising her children and making a home. By 1966, Joanne and Maurice were blessed with seven children, and had settled in Manchester. Challenging as it was raising so many small children, Joanne was never too tired to bake a batch of cookies, prepare a special dessert, or honor a request for a favorite meal. She loved huge holiday gatherings, decorating for Christmas, and she never failed to make each of her children feel like a VIP on their birthdays. Joanne had only seven children of her own, but it wouldn’t appear so, as, on any given day, the Guillemette home would be filled with neighborhood children. As Joanne’s friends and family know, her graciousness and hospitality were her specialties. Ruby slippers were not required for Joanne to instill the belief in her children, that “there’s no place like home.” Joanne (Nana), loved being a grandmother. To the delight of her grandchildren, and the dismay of their parents, she was especially proud of the bottomless candy/treats drawer in her kitchen. She enjoyed mystery novels, crossword puzzles, and tales of “real” ghost sightings. She loved the color blue. She loved St. Patrick’s Day, and everything Irish. She loved baking and her rum cakes were legendary. They would sell out before they could make it to the table of her grandchildrens’ school bake sales. She continues to be known around town as “the lady who gives out full-size candy bars” to the many trick-or-treaters who never knew her name. Joanne was happiest when she knew she did something that made someone’s day a little bit brighter. Joanne loved so many, and so many loved her right back. She will be missed. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the wonderful staff at Glenridge. Thank you for the care, the kindness, and the compassion shown to our mother. Last, but not least, thank you for making her feel like the most popular girl in the world until the very end. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One Suite 2C, Scarborough ME. 04074. Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 63 Bowdoin St., Winthrop where condolences to the family may be shared on the obituary page of the website at www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com