Lucille Cormier

Mrs. LUCILLE J. CORMIER
Beloved Mom, Grandmother, & Great-Grandmother
Cherished Aunt, Cousin, Godmother, & Friend

LUCILLE JEANNETTE (SIMONEAU) CORMIER, age 87, of 287 Spencer Street, Naugatuck, CT., died peacefully at Glendale Center on Saturday morning, Octo-ber 30, 2010, from complications associated with end-stage Parkinson’s Disease. On September 26, 1942, she was married at St. André’s Church in Biddeford, Maine to Oneil J. Cormier Sr., who predeceased her on April 2, 2002, after fifty-nine years of marriage. Mrs. Cormier had quietly and courageously struggled with Parkinson’s Disease for two decades, but never lost her zest for life. Though she had been a resident at Glendale Center since the summer of 2003, she looked forward to and frequently attended family celebrations - and always enjoyed spending Sunday afternoons at her home on Spencer Street.

Born and raised in Biddeford, Maine, Lucille was the elder daughter of the late Arthur and Blanche (Martineau) Simoneau. In 1936, she graduated first in her class from St. Andre’s School - an achievement of which she was modestly proud; and she always took great pride in her French-Canadian heritage, sharing many old customs and stories with her children. Mrs. Cormier was twice retired: first from Waterbury Hospital where she had enjoyed working as a Unit Clerk and making new friends, then from Glendale Center where she was employed part-time in the housekeeping department. She had earlier worked at both the U.S. Rubber and the Lewis Engineering companies in Naugatuck, while raising her family in the 1950s and 60s. In years past, she had been a member of the St. Francis Catholic Council of Women and, along with her husband, a charter member of Naugatuck’s Fraternal Order of Eagles.

A devout Catholic, Lucille was a faithful communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Naugatuck since moving here from Maine in 1952; and she was fervently devoted to St. Jude, offering daily prayers for his intercessions - and encouraging her family & friends to do the same.

Mrs. Cormier is survived by her seven children, two sons-in-law, and four daughters-in-law: Jeanne & Stanley Remiszewski of Watertown, Dianne & Donald Bedard of Prospect, Dennis & Ellen (Kaminski) Cormier of Naugatuck, Oneil J. Cormier Jr. of Cromwell, Ron & Valerie (Magdon) Cormier of Naugatuck, Joe & Jacquie (Bouchard) Cormier of Beacon Falls, and Dan & Donna (Perock) Cormier of Prospect. She also leaves eleven grandchildren (six of whom are married) and fourteen great-grandchildren, all of whom loved and adored their ‘Gramma Cormier’: Shelley (Remiszewski) & Bob LaBonne Jr. of Morris, and their children Robert III, Paige, & Hannah; Stanley Jr. & Julie Remiszewski of Watertown, and their son Evan; David Bedard of Florida; Ashley Bedard of Prospect; Darren & Christine Bedard of Prospect, and their children Austin & Tori; Douglas & Liz Bedard of Glastonbury, and their children Alexandra, Natalie, & Bennett; Teri (Cormier) & Mike Chasse of Plainville, and their children Ethan & Jillian; Jennifer Cormier of Naugatuck; Jessica Cormier & Jaimie Cormier of Beacon Falls; Crystal (Cormier) & Billy Burr of Wolcott, and their son Aiden; Sherri Cormier of Alabama; and Kelly Cormier of Prospect. In addition to her immediate family, Lucille leaves a sister, Laurence N. Martel of Biddeford, Maine, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and friends. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Laurier O. Simoneau of Biddeford (1970) and Andre F. ‘Joe’ Simoneau of Naugatuck (1995) - as well as her eldest grandson, Donald W. Bedard Jr. of Waterbury, who passed away in 1996.

Mrs. Cormier had many interests and hobbies, but her greatest joy in life was spending time with her beloved husband ‘Neil’ and with her ever-growing family. She loved to cook and bake - and will be long-remembered for her chocolate-chip and chocolate-drop cookies, homemade fudge, French crêpes, corton, and Memere Blanche’s chocolate fudge cake. She enjoyed making crossword puzzles, playing Scrabble and Yahtzee, crocheting and sewing, cribbage and card games, clipping coupons, collecting recipes, and keeping a clean house. She was content with a hot cup of tea --- or a glass of Coke with a bowl of popcorn or chips. She enjoyed ‘good food’ --- especially lobster, shrimp, and corn-on-the-cob. And she loved getting together with her longtime neighborhood friends --- Joan Cronin, JoAnn (Niski) Cieslewski, & Joan Scullin --- as well as her dear friend, Elenore Benoit. Those who were blessed to have been part of Lucille’s life know that she welcomed company at her home day-or-night (and always with a smile) --- though she was happiest on Sunday nights, when all the children and grandchildren crowded into Pappy & Gramma’s House for their weekly visit. Mrs. Cormier was truly one-of-a-kind. She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by many.

A celebration of Lucille’s wonderful life was held at the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck, on Monday, November 1st, from 4pm to 8pm; and at the family’s request, a Holy Rosary was prayed at 7:45pm. The funeral was held on Tuesday morning, November 2nd, from the funeral home at 8:30 to St. Francis of Assisi Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00. Interment was in the family plot at St. James Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Naugatuck Lodge of Elks on Rubber Avenue - to which all were invited.

Pallbearers were grandsons Stanley Remiszewski Jr., Darren Bedard, and Douglas Bedard --- and grandsons-in-law Bob LaBonne Jr., Mike Chasse, and Billy Burr. During the Mass, Shelley LaBonne and Kelly Cormier delivered the readings --- with Jaimie Cormier reciting the Petition Prayers; and presenting the gifts were Jennifer Cormier, Robert LaBonne III, and Ashley Bedard. Darren Bedard delivered a personal eulogy at the conclusion of the Mass.

Donations in Lucille’s memory may be made to her favorite charity, The National Shrine of St.Jude at www.ShrineOfStJude.org - or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation at www.MichaelJFox.org, to help find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to the Glendale Center nurses, CNAs, and staff members who cared for Mrs. Cormier for the last seven years --- especially those on Rosebud Court --- and to all who attended her and accommodated her family during the final weeks of her life.