Claude R. Dube

Claude Robert Dube, 89, of 500 Webster Street, Lewiston, recently of 99 High Street, Auburn passed away Thursday night, December 12, from complications involved in his long battle with dementia. He died at home with his sons by his side.

Claude was born on East Avenue, Lewiston to George and Angelina (Levasseur) Dube on October 3, 1924. He attended Lewiston Schools. In the 1930s the family lived in Monmouth, in a beautiful large farmhouse atop the ridge on Norris Hill Road. Five years later he and the family moved back to Lewiston, to Lowell Street. Claude served in the US Army during World War II in the First and Third Armies, seeing duty on D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge and eventually the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. The experience was something he spoke of rarely. He was a trained medic and was assigned to heavy artillery as a member of the 155 Long Tom crew. After the war he worked at Knapp Shoe and took various second jobs as well. On July 5, 1948 he married Fernande Cloutier at Holy Family Church. They purchased a home at 500 Webster Street in 1953 where they happily raised three children. Claude also purchased Dube’s Greenhouses, a large wholesale cut-flower enterprise established by his Uncle Frank in 1939. Claude earned multiple “Best in New England” awards for his carnations and enjoyed a fine reputation as one of the most skilled growers in the region. There is a plaque honoring his achievements at the Boston Flower Market. In the 1970s the family moved to Ventnor, New Jersey and Claude worked at Parker’s Greenhouses of Scotch Plains and Fisher’s Greenhouses in Linwood, NJ. He returned again to Lewiston in 1978, growing exceptionally fine crops of Poinsettias and lillies at Saunder’s Greenhouse before working for about a decade at Hall & Knight Hardware Co. In his retirement years Claude enjoyed maintaining part time work at Roak the Florist, keeping his green thumb in action and happily sharing his knowledge and expertise. Claude is survived by his three children, Joyce Smith and her husband, Richard of Pittsgrove, NJ, James of Auburn and Jody of Lewiston, and three grandchildren, Richard, Rachel and Ryan. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Anni Dube of Mesa, Arizona and Alice Pelletier of Taunton, Massachusetts as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins. His wife, Fern passed away in 1989. Claude was also predeceased by his mother and father, and siblings, Lawrence, Phillippe, and Albert Dube, Dorothy Small and Jeanette Storman. The family would like to extend thanks to his personal physician, Dr. Gary Hatfield, for his attentiveness and care as well as the staff of Central Maine Medical Center, Androscoggin Health and Hospice, particularly his hospice nurse, Tammy Bean, SeniorsPlus, Elder Independence of Maine and Tender Touch, Inc., especially his personal care assistant, Laura Harris. Ever dedicated to his family, Claude Dube worked tirelessly to provide for their needs before his own. He was unselfish and always a pillar of strength for others. A man of exceptional faith and integrity, he possessed a quiet resiliency that touched many lives. He loved people, was driven to make the most of his time on Earth and in so doing, quietly won the admiration of everyone who met him. You are invited to share your condolences with the Dube family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com

Visitation Tuesday from 2-4 to 6-8 PM at the Fortin Funeral Home, Lewiston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church. Committal to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery. A service of The Fortin Group Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services, 70 Horton St. Lewiston 784-4584