Pauline Dorise Bourgoin

Pauline was born on April 13, 1933, in Lewiston to Rachel (DesLauriers) and Aime Mercier. She was educated at St. Peter’s School and graduated from St. Dom’s class of 1951. She met the love of her life, Joseph L. Bourgoin, who was a friend of her brother, and married on May 8, 1954. Together they raised six children.

At the age of 18, she began teaching adult swimming at the YMCA while working at Bates Mill. She proceeded to create a swim program called Tiny Tots that involved children from the age of three to five years old. This program became her passion which she taught for 68 years, retiring at the age of 85 years old. During this time, the YMCA estimated that she taught over 25,000 kids. Her mission was to teach kids to swim to prevent accidents. In 2013, she received The Earl B. Austin Jr. Award. Pauline also was inducted in the YMCA Hall of Fame and the L/A Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

A person of deep faith, she was a very active member of St. Peter and Paul Church and later Our Lady of the Rosary. She was involved on the church board and did several Sunday mass readings.

Her pride and joy were spending quality time with family. She and Joe welcomed with open arms any new members to their family. Every summer, “Poe and Joe”, would host a summer picnic in which we enjoyed food, volleyball, swimming and togetherness. On Labor Day weekend she would have a breakfast gathering where she would make everyone crepes. Everyone enjoyed her crepes and her Long Beach Special sandwiches. Family card nights were always loud and memorable. Poe played not to win but to make sure you didn’t.

Pauline is survived by one son, Rene Bourgoin, three daughters: Dorise Ouellette and her husband Gerald, Lucie Tibbals, Michelle Pettengill and her husband Greg, and two daughters-in-laws, Nancy (Denis) Kenney and Debbie (Lenny) Bourgoin. Other survivors are her 20 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her parents, siblings, her husband and two sons, Denis and Lenny, a son-in-law Geoff Tibbals and a grandson Justin Pettengill.

We would like to thank her personal home health aides, Doreen, Angela and Kristi, and the support from Andwell Hospice.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 4 - 7 PM at The Fortin & Pinette Funeral Home, 305 Alfred Plourde Parkway, Lewiston, ME. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Friday, December 6, 2024 at 11 AM at Our Lady of the Rosary, 131 High Street, Sabattus, ME. Committal prayers will will follow at St. Peter Cemetery, Lewiston.

Please visit www.LewistonFunerals.com to sign Pauline’s guestbook and leave memories and condolences for the family.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Auburn YMCA, in memory of Pauline Bourgoin.

https://operations.daxko.com/online/2099/OnlineGiving/Donation.mvc