MADAWASKA – Rejeanne Dufour, 88, passed away on March 13, 2023 at a Fort Kent health care facility.

She was born in Courcelles, Quebec on Sept. 14, 1934, daughter of the late Valere and Florida (Theberge) Lessard. She attended local schools and in 1952, moved to Edmundston, New Brunswick, to help start up a new men’s dress shirt manufacturing company, as a talented head seamstress.

Several years later, at a company Christmas party, she met her knight in shining armor, Roger Dufour, who had just returned from a two-year army assignment with NATO in Paris, France in 1960. After dating for several months, they married on Aug. 12, 1961. Thus was the beginning of their 62-year love affair. Their one and only child, Louise, was born to them in January of 1963. Rejeanne then became a full time homemaker for many years, devoting herself to the well being of her husband and child.

As a talented seamstress, she made beautiful outfits for her daughter, Louise. She loved to cook and bake from scratch, and would often be found reading recipe books while watching the evening news, planning her meals for the next day.

She was a strong advocate of her husband’s career as he transitioned from working night shift as an electrician at Fraser Paper and taking classes at UMFK during the daytime, eventually earning his bachelor’s and master’s degree in education, and beginning his new career as a teacher. Rejeanne was equally a strong advocate of her daughter getting a college education, and instilling in her values of a strong work ethic, faith, family, perseverance, and always striving for excellence, as she herself strove for excellence at whatever she attempted.

Rejeanne and Roger loved working in their gardens, and doing all kinds of projects together, being industrious and productive at all times. Perhaps one of Rejeanne’s greatest joys was spending time with her family, nurturing them with her homemade cooking and baking.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Roger Dufour of Madawaska; one daughter, Louise (Dufour) Beaudoin and her husband Stephen of Scarborough; two siblings, Guy Lessard and his wife Jacqueline of Courcelles, Quebec, Dolores St. Pierre of New Bedford, Mass.; nieces and nephews.

Rejeanne was predeceased by three siblings, Roger Lessard, Gaston Lessard, and Hugette (Lessard) Domingue.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Monday, March 20 at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Relatives and friends may call at Lajoie Funeral Home in Madawaska from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. There will be no visiting hours on Monday before the Mass.

For online condolences, please visit http://www.lajoiefuneralhome.com

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