Irene P. Bourque

1920-2022

AUBURN - Irene P. (St. Sauveur) Bourque, 102, of Lewiston, passed away peacefully into the arms of our heavenly Mother Mary on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, Maine. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 11, 1920, one of 13 children to Jean-Baptiste and Alice (Bernard) St. Sauveur.

After graduating in 1938 from Cambridge High and Latin in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Irene went to work at the Hood Rubber Co. in Watertown, MA. As World War II ensued, she became part of the incredible “Rosie the Riveter” group of women who produced parts for equipment and military planes. Irene met her future husband, Joseph G. Bourque of Lewiston, ME, while he was stationed at Ft. Devens, MA. After he returned from duty (including being present during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii), they married on August 19, 1944 at Sacred Heart Church in Watertown, MA. Soon they moved to Lewiston, Maine, where she resided for over 75 years.

Irene was creative, determined and resourceful. Having survived the depression and a world war, she used those life experiences and took classes in tailoring, carpentry, and electricity to be more competent in doing her own home repairs.

She had a command of hand-art providing crocheted, knitted and sewn items for family and friends, as well as many priests’ vestments. She loved the beauty within the variations of rocks, crystals, and flowering plants. With her love of gardening, she transformed her yard from sand and clay into a beautiful, flowering landscape.

At the age of 91, she went with her family to visit the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and the great Redwood Forests of California. By age 99, she took a ride to Canada where she met her extended family of St. Sauveur cousins for the very first time. All of which were the epitome of her bucket list.

Irene was a devout Catholic and a communicant of Holy Family Church for over 70 years, where she participated in the Holy Family Choir and Ladies of St. Anne. In 2020, she was deeply moved when she received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis in honor of her 100 birthday. This was due to the special efforts of Fr. Dan O’Connell of Newton, Massachusetts, a longtime friend of the family.

She was a proud and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother enjoying every moment with her friends and family including the special “Gram Camp” times with the kids. Irene is survived by her four sons, Richard and his wife Karen, Paul and his wife Jeannette, Lee, Peter and his wife Susan; her two daughters, Janice and her companion Schuyler, and Annette and her companion, Duke; her six grandchildren, Christine Brooks and boyfriend Jim, Elycia, Ryan and his wife Melissa, John-Paul and his partner Heidi, Alex and his partner Allison, and Olivia; her three great-grandchildren Griffin, Weston and Odeya; plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins in the United States and Canada.

Irene was predeceased by her parents, all of her sisters and brothers, and her husband, Joseph, who passed away in 1980.

The family deeply appreciates the many years of excellent care and compassion provided to her by physician, Dr. Jeffrey Brown of St. Mary’s Medical Associates. It is a great tribute to her longevity. They also want to thank the incredible staff who treated her with the utmost respect and kindness while she was at the Androscoggin Hospice House.

Visitation will be held 4-7 pm Thursday, April 7th at The Fortin Group 70 Horton Street, Lewiston. Please bring any photos you wish to share of Irene to add to her memory boards.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am Friday, April 8th at the Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston. Committal will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation or sponsoring an Angel Vigil light in memory of Irene at the Androscoggin Hospice House, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn. Please see their website for more details.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com