LEWISTON – Mary Alice Gilbert DeFosse died Sunday, August 23, 2009, at Central Maine Medical Center.
She was born on Dec. 12, 1923, in Lisbon, N.H., the daughter of Fred and Mildred (Smith) Gilbert Sr. She was educated in Landoff, N.H., in a one-room schoolhouse and later graduated from Lisbon High School with the class of 1941.
She married Thomas A. DeFosse on Feb. 7, 1942 in Lisbon. He died on Jan. 7, 2004. Together they raised three daughters. They moved to Maine in 1951, first living in Peru and later settling in Dixfield. She worked for Diamond International in Peru for 32 years, retiring in July of 1984.
She attended the Dixfield Common Baptist Church. While there, she held many positions such as clerk, and secretary of the Ladies Fellowship. She also sang in the choir. In November of 1996, she joined the Church of Nazarene in Dixfield where she was Head Steward on the board, Office for the Sunshine Committee; president of the Missionary Society, and completed many other duties, such as flower arrangements for the different seasons. She loved God, the church and the fellowship of all the people she met there.
She had a smile for everyone, and anyone who knew her, loved her. She was always looking on the bright side of any situation, and always gave a helping hand to anyone who needed one. She was an avid reader and loved the outdoors, traveling, playing her guitar, doing crafts and spending time with her family and friends. She was well known for her padded photo albums and picture frames.
She leaves behind her three daughters, Judy Jones and her husband Bruce of Milton, N.H.; Patti DeMeritt of Dixfield, and Mary Lou Ellis of Mexico; 10 grandchildren: Steve Robinson and his wife Renate and their children, William and Donica, James Robinson, Susan Smith and her husband Brant and their children; Christopher and Brandon, Tom Johnson and his wife Diane, their daughter Stephanie and her fiancé Michael; Robert Johnson, Brad Smith, Mary Beth Allen and her husband Jim and their three daughters, Kristen Provencher and her husband Corey, Jessica and Ayla Allen; John Ellis Jr., and his companion Debbie Landry and their three daughters, Alexa Ellis, and Ceira and Danielle Bedard; Terri Ellis and her two children, Joe Bruns and Jennifer Ellis; Missy Ellis and her companion Gary Warren and his two children, Chad Warren and his son Tyler, and Kori Warren and her companion Derek Vaughn. She also had a great-great grandson born two days prior to her death, Cash Allen Provencher; her brother Fred Gilbert Jr. and his wife Dale, a sister in law, Blanche Bergeron, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, a sister C. Pauline Wright, a grandson, David Robinson, and two infant grandchildren, Crystal Johnson and Rickie Ellis.
We wish to thank all of the doctors and nurses who took such great care of our Mom, at Central Maine Medical Center, and all of our family and friends for their support.
A memorial graveside service will be held Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Dixfield. In memory of Mary, donations may be given to the Church of the Nazarene, 171 Weld St., Dixfield, ME 04224. Condolences may be emailed to the family at info@wilesrc.com. Arrangements are under the care of Wiles Remembrance Center, 42 Weld St., Dixfield, ME.
