After a brief illness, Cecile F. Dutremble, 98, of Biddeford, Maine, passed away peacefully on Nov. 3, 2024.

Cecile was born on April 8, 1926, in Berlin, New Hampshire, to Henri and Alida, nee Plante, Dubreuil. She had four siblings, Robert, Raymond, Rene, and Theresa.

After her parents purchased a dairy farm in Lancaster, New Hampshire, the Dubreuil family moved to their new home located on a North Road hilltop facing the White Mountains. Cecile often told stories about the ordeals of working on a farm, haying with pitchforks and scythes, chasing cows into the barn for milking, and subsequent gutter cleanups. Her early education came from a small schoolhouse located a few miles away. They often crossed their family’s acres of fields as a shortcut to the school. Cecile and her siblings walked to the school, even in the bitter cold and snowy winters of their mountain climate. During those early years, the farm became the focal point for the Dubreuil family to gather for family events. This also continued throughout the ensuing years. As the Dubreuil family expanded and spread out in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts, the farm continued to be the gathering place for Cecile, Babe, and their boys, when they visited the Dubreuil family. They were fun family gatherings filled, with laughter, music, fresh maple syrup, the churning of butter, and tractor and horse rides. Cecile was close to her Dubreuil family members and the love and happiness they exuded for each other.

In 1943-44, while visiting relatives in Biddeford, Cecile met Lucien “Babe” Dutremble, one of 13 siblings who resided nearby. The attraction was immediate. Lucien and Cecile would fall in love, and marry on July 15, 1944. The joining in marriage of both the large Dubreuil and Dutremble families made for quite a celebratory wedding event on the Dubreuil farm in Lancaster

After their marriage, Cecile left her Lancaster home on the farm and moved to Biddeford, where she and her husband, “Babe” would settle. Cecile gave birth to five boys, Donald, Dennis, Richard, Alan, and Larry.

Thus began a whirlwind of activities for Cecile and her family which she strongly participated in or supported. Cecile and Babe encouraged their sons’ participation in extracurricular activities like sports, band, and other school activities. Family, and religion were also important to her and to impart to her children.

Cecile’s connection to Lucien’s large Dutremble family became a vital part of life after she moved to Biddeford. The Dutremble family gatherings at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays or events were large, happy, and festive. Cecile enjoyed her many sisters- and brothers-in-law and loved the closeness of the family.

As the sons of Cecile and Babe Dutremble married and the family grew, both parents were the bond of the family. With their now large family, they, too, thoroughly enjoyed the holiday gatherings, the BBQ’s and picnics, the trips to Sebago Lake, the rides to the first McDonalds in Portland, and yes, even the appearances of Santa Claus every Christmas. She absolutely loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As she had done for her sons, both Cecile and Babe traveled to sports or other events in which all the young ones participated. She and Babe didn’t miss many.

Cecile was a quiet and calm woman. That changed a little when her husband Lucien became involved in government service. She attended many political functions and met many influencers, including the Kennedys, President Clinton, governors, U.S. senators and representatives, and several others. Cecile always handled herself with grace and assuredness in these meetings, and of course, excitement, too.

In the mid-50s, Babe joined with brothers Ben and Richard Dutremble and purchased the building on the corner of Crescent and Green streets. The lower level of the building became Dutremble Brothers grocery store. After a few years, Babe and Cecile would become sole owners of the business. Cecile ran and managed the store with her husband. She was a great cook and would make several pork pies for selling at the store during holidays, and delicious salmon pies on Fridays, which were, at the time “no-meat-Fridays” for Catholics.

After the sale of Dutremble Brothers and the building in 1973, Cecile began working at Laverdierre’s at the Five Point Shopping Center. She stayed with the business after it’s transition to Rite Aid, and subsequently, to Walgreens. She loved to work and did so until the age of 81.

In addition to the multitude of events she attended to see the kids play throughout her years, Cecile enjoyed making puzzles, watching game shows, the Red Sox, Patriots, and the Celtics (especially Larry Bird), drive-in theatres, and going to both Foxwoods and the Oxford casinos. She belonged to several groups and organizations, including St Joseph’s Parish and Daughters of Isabella.

After the death of her husband in February 2006, Cecile Dutremble left her 50+ years home on Green Street, and moved to the McArthur Home on Elm Street, Biddeford in 2010. In 2020, she was admitted to the St. Andre’s Health Care Facility for rehabilitation work after a fall. COVID hit the first week she was there. After rehabilitation, she became a full-time resident in the nursing part of St. Andre’s. She made excellent friends while there with other residents and the staff.

Two of her sons, Larry with the fudge, and Richard with the bag of miniature chocolate bars, would supply her with these treats regularly. As Cecile did for years at her own home, she set out bowls of these treats for the staff or residents to enjoy. She became known as the “Candy Lady” at the facility. It delighted her when the staff members started calling her C.C.. She got a big kick out of that.

The Dutremble family would like to thank all of the staff members at St Andre’s for the love, care and joy they provided to her. In addition, the Dutremble family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Southern Maine Medical Center for the care and comfort they provided to our mother, Cecile, in her last few days of life while at the hospital.

Cecile Dutremble is preceded in death by: her mother and father, Henri and Alida Dubreuil; her husband, Lucien “Babe” Dutremble; her son, Donald Dutremble; her daughter-in- law, Mary Jane Dutremble; her brothers, Bob and his wife, Marie Dubreuil, Raymond and his wife, Beverly Dubreuil, Rene and his wife, Jean Dubreuil; and her sister, Theresa and her husband, Zane Hartlan. Cecile was also preceded in death by: her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Urban and Claire Dutremble, Irene and Joe Plante, Lucille and Bill Casey, Pauline and Joe Goulet, Theresa and Gerard Dagesse, Claire and Rene Pelletier, Rachel and Francis Levesque, Yvette and Leo St. Amand, Richard and Ann Dutremble, Yvonne and Robert Paquette, and Paulette Dutremble.

She leaves behind: Linda Dutremble, Dennis and his wife, Dorothy Dutremble, Richard Dutremble, Alan and his wife, Nancy Dutremble, Larry and his wife, Diane Dutremble; also, she will be missed by her 13 grandchildren, and 27 great- and great-great-grandchildren, cousins, and several nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held at Hope Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. The burial will occur at St. Joseph’s Cemetery at noon.