TOPSHAM — Anita Michaud, 83, of Topsham, died May 22, 2018 at Maine Medical Center after a brief illness with her family by her side.

Anita was born January 2, 1935 to Gladys and Gerald Gamble. She grew up in Barre, Vermont and at age 8 moved to Woolwich, Maine, leaving behind a number of cousins she remained close to over the years. Her school years were spent in Woolwich, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse taught by her favorite teacher, Mrs. Reynolds. She graduated from Morse High School in 1953. Anita enjoyed the swimming hole near the Taste of Maine, was a lifeguard at Reid State Park, and enjoyed hunting and fishing with her father!

Anita met the love of her life, David Michaud of Topsham, shortly out of high school. They dated for a couple of years before marrying in April 1956 and honeymooned at Niagara Falls. During the early years of their marriage, they enjoyed spending time with close friends and relatives, car rides, dancing, and Sunday hangouts. Before starting a family, they moved to Prospect Street where they would later raise two sons, David Jr., born in 1959, and James, born in 1962.

In addition to raising her family, Anita was a bookkeeper for a small accounting firm and then worked for Dr. Winklebauer and Dr. York in Brunswick. In October 1980, she and her husband purchased Michaud’s Market in Topsham, where for the remainder of her life, she was the friendly face behind the counter. Anita was the type of woman who would give the shirt off her back to those in need.

Anita’s pride and joy were her two grandchildren, Haley and Dylan. When they were young, she enjoyed having them spend the night where Haley loved to sleep in her closet and Dylan at the foot of their bed. As they grew older, she attended as many of their sporting events as she could and was always beaming with pride.

Anita is survived by her husband of 62 years; her son, Jim Michaud and his wife Mary; a sister, Elizabeth Simonitis of Freeport; her two grandchildren, Haley and Dylan; someone she considered a daughter and a sister to Jim, Kathy Tome of Bowdoinham; in addition to several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, David Jr. who died in October 2000. She also leaves behind a number of other relatives and close friends.

Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4PM and 6 to 8PM Thursday, May 31 at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1PM Friday, June 1, at St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Anita’s memory to the American Heart Association of Maine, 51 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074, or to the Maine Cancer Foundation, 170 US Route 1, #250, Falmouth, ME 04105.

Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.