BIDDEFORD — Anita B. Bergeron, 90, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2023, at Gosnell House after a brief illness.

She was born in Biddeford on May 4, 1932, daughter of the late Roland and Marie Rose (Lizotte) Lemieux. Anita married the love of her life, Alcide (Sid) Bergeron on Feb, 9, 1952, and together they raised five children and a flock of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Anita loved bingo, bowling, playing cards, cooking and baking cakes, and spending time with family and friends, especially the extended family’s annual Easter Party, where her grandchildren would perform pop hits while she cackled in delight. She had a cake pan and teapot collection that Martha Stewart would have drooled over, and despite her tongue-in-cheek refusal to say “I love you” or to share the “How she met her husband” story to any of us, she lived for her family more than anything.

She left school as a sophomore to help put food on the table for her family, and later, as a waitress at Huots to help support her own household. As a younger woman she loved lipstick, high heels, and dancing in OOB, and as a mother and grandmother was famous for bursting into the bedroom and singing “It’s time to get up in the morn-ing!” to the tune of “Taps.” She convinced her grandchildren she was a witch, and once jokingly terrorized them by moving a Ouija Board placard with only the tips of her fingernails. Despite her reputation as a tough as nails disciplinarian, Anita possessed a wicked sense of humor and would laugh (especially at her grandchildren) at every opportunity.

Anita was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 66 years, Sid and her sister Claire Lantagne.

She  is survived by her five children: Debra Roy, Diane Beckim, Denise Cross, Bill Bergeron (partner Mark) and Jim Bergeron; eight grandchildren: Chad Beckim (Yindy), Brad Beckim, Kristy Pesce (Ralph), Matt Beckim (Kelly), Kevin Roy (Michelle), Katie Roy, Emily Cross and Marilu Cross (partner Steve); and six great-grandchildren: Cameron Beckim, Antonio Pesce, Dominic Pesce, Ryder Beckim, Sydney Beckim, Coen Roy. She is also survived by her sister Muriel Caissie and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation / Services for Anita will be held at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford on March 25, 2023 from 1 to 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Gosnell House, 11 Hunnewell Road, Scarborough, ME 04074. Or, think of her the next time you bake a cake … or play Bingo or cards … or make someone laugh. She’ll be around us longer that way.

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