AnneMarie was born in Rumford, Maine, on Jan. 18, 1954, one of nine children to John F. and Jeannette Derouche Sr. She graduated from Mexico High School and on March 13, 1971, she married the love of her life, Chester A. Groleau Sr. in Rumford, ME. AnneMarie and Chet lived together for many years in Mexico/Rumford, before moving to Bath in 1981 and then Brunswick to make their home and raise their family.
AnneMarie worked for years at Shaw’s and later at Five County Credit Union, but her primary job, and the one she loved the most, was that of mother and grandmother. When her children were young, she worked overnights and took summers off to raise her three children. As they grew older her focus shifted from her children to her grandchildren and for the last 20 years she was known to everyone as Memere.
AnneMarie is survived by her husband of 43 years, Chester Groleau Sr.; her children: C. Allen Groleau Jr. of Greenville, PA, Melissa Palmer and her husband Corey of Bowdoin, ME, Jennifer Janik and her husband Radek of Whitefield, ME; her 11 grandchildren, and the joys of her life: Keanna, Alyssa, Trey and Zander Groleau; Gage, Olivia and Ethan Palmer; Mariana, Gabriela, Jonah and Isaiah Janik; her mother Jeanette Arsenault Derouche; siblings, Carol Littlehale, John F. Derouche Jr. and his wife Lynda, Cynthia Burke and her husband Jack, Kathleen Thompson and her husband Peter, Timothy Derouche and his wife Anita, James Derouche and his wife Renee, Joseph Derouche and his wife Catherine and Janet Brennick and her husband Michael; her aunt/godmother Georgette Arsenault Beauchesne and countless cousins, nieces and nephews.
AnneMarie was predeceased by her father, John Francis Derouche Sr., on Jan. 14, 2000.
Visiting hours will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, at Desmond Funeral Home, 638 High St., Bath. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at noon on Thursday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Brunswick.
The family is deeply appreciative of the loving care she received from the staff of the Mid Coast Hospital ED and ICU.
In lieu of flowers, donations in AnneMarie’s memory can be made to the Lupus Foundation of New England, 40 Speen St., Suite 101, Framingham, MA 01701- 1898.
You may express your condolences at www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.
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