Eleanor Ann Pelletier

Born September 19, 1936 in Worcester, MA, to Dorothy (Lane) and Harold Lashua, Eleanor lived in Norfolk, VA until second grade when her family moved back north to Waltham, MA. At age 16, she began filing and bookkeeping at Parke Snow’s department store after school at Greater Boston Academy.

Eleanor often reminisced about the years she and her mom lived in Boston. On Sabbaths, after church, they would take “the T” over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts. On Sundays, they had fun shopping at Filene’s Basement and Durgin-Park in Haymarket Square, often enjoying a warm treat of Indian pudding topped with vanilla ice cream.

Eleanor earned her teaching degree from Boston College and her Masters of Education from the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham. She taught briefly in Massachusetts and Brattleboro, VT, followed by 42 years in Maine at Lewiston High School, and over 20 years at UMA and USM's Lewiston-Auburn Campus. She LOVED teaching math, mostly algebra; her greatest satisfaction was helping her students feel less intimidated, and often went the extra mile by tutoring after class.

Eleanor met the love of her life, Joseph Guy Yvon Pelletier, at a Seventh-day Adventist camp meeting in South Lancaster, MA while singing in the choir, and they married 4 years later on August 3, 1958. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2018, the same year as Joseph’s passing. Joe, Eleanor, and her mother raised the family in the same Auburn home she lived in for over 62 years.

Eleanor enjoyed gardening, watching backyard crows, chatting with store owners and former students, natural remedies, hosting garage sales, and driving their RV. Many will remember her bright smile and kind heart, her signature hair bun, soprano singing, directing the Calvary Methodist church choir, playing the double bass, piano, and teaching Sabbath school class at church.

Eleanor believed right to the end that one day soon, Jesus will return and call His faithful children home. We look forward with joyful anticipation to that glorious reunion when death will be no more and we will embrace our dear mother again.

Eleanor is survived by her children: Jonathan Pelletier and companion Marcus Acosta, Dorothy Pelletier (Hill), Esther Pelletier of Freeport, and Joel Pelletier of Portland; grandchildren: Elliana Dixon and husband James, Micayla Eason and husband Patrick, Matthew Hill, Tashala Joj and husband Edgar, and Solomon Hill; great granddaughter: Shania Dixon; and a great grandson due in spring 2027. Eleanor is predeceased by her mother and husband.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her many loving healthcare professionals over the past couple years: visiting nurses and CNAs from Andwell Hospice, staff at D’Youville Nursing Home's rehab unit, and CMMC medical office and hospital staff. We also appreciate all those who have kept our Mom in their prayers and hearts during her final years.

The family invites you to a Visitation with Light Refreshments from 12-1:30 pm followed by an informal Celebration of Life at 1:30pm on Saturday, August 22nd at the Fortin Group Funeral Home, 217 Turner St. in Auburn, the funeral party will then travel to Mount Auburn Cemetery for interment.