Carmeline O. Pellerin

SCARBOROUGH: Carmeline O. Pellerin, 91, formally of Waterville, died Saturday July 9, 2011. She was born in Waterville, February 16, 1920, the daughter of Thomas and Regina Duquette. She lived in Waterville until 2005 when she moved to Portland to be near her family.

Carmeline will be most remembered for her love of family and her artistic integrity. Through her God given talent she gave more than 75 years of service to her church and community. Her devotion to her ministry of music influenced the liturgies not only in her home parish of Notre Dame Church but also throughout the entire Catholic Diocese of Maine.

Her ministry began at Notre Dame at a very young age where she sang in the children’s choir, sang the Latin masses as a young woman, and ultimately directed the adult choir for many years. As a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Council during the mid-seventies, she was instrumental in developing music workshops with composers of sacred music that would enrich the liturgies throughout the diocese for years to come. She also displayed her vocal talent in the Waterville theatre community beginning as a young girl in French plays and throughout her adult life. She will be most remembered for her role as Mother Abbess in "The Sound of Music" and for her rendition of "Climb Every Mountain."

She is survived by her son Thomas and wife Natalie, of Tampa FL; daughter Jeanne Shinay and husband Michael, of Reston VA; daughter Celeste Shinay and husband Richard, of Scarborough; son Mark of Scarborough; granddaughter Katrina Ames and husband Brook, of Cambridge MA; grandson Jonathan Shinay and wife Ashley, of Brookline MA; granddaughter Nicole Keith and husband Jonathan, of Corinth TX; granddaughters Emily and Julia Shinay of Scarborough; great grandchildren Lucien and Lenka Keith of Corinth TX; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Lucian Pellerin and son Raymond.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Veilleux's Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville ME. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 15 at 11a.m. at Notre Dame Church, 112 Silver Street, Waterville.

Carmeline’s family extends sincere thanks to the dedicated staff at The Birchwoods at Canco, to her private caregivers from Home Partners, and for the compassionate care received at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

Donations in memory of Carmeline may be made to the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, 110 Silver Street, Waterville Maine 04901, or Mount Merici School, 152 Western Avenue, Waterville Maine 04901.