Wilda Mae (Pelletier) Theriault

PORTLAND – Wilda Mae (Pelletier) Theriault entered eternal rest on April 1, 2025, in the comfort of her home surrounded by family.

Wilda was born in Portland on July 29, 1928, to Thomas J. Pelletier and Marie Louise (Fournier) Pelletier. She attended South Portland elementary and middle schools, as well as Portland High School.

Wilda married Henry A. Theriault on March 5, 1949, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. Together they had seven children and were married almost 62 years at the time of Henry’s passing in 2010.

Wilda worked at The Shoe Factory in Portland in the finishing room on the leather shoes, as well as being the company shoe model. She later became an award-winning daycare provider for the state of Maine, specializing in Title 20 children through DHHS and Catholic Charities of Maine. She received accolades including being awarded “Maine State Daycare Provider of the Year” at a banquet in her honor. Wilda cared for a total of 101 children ranging from newborn to 3 years during her career, retiring on July 28, 1995.

Wilda was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was an avid Beano player, enjoyed playing Yahtzee, gardening with her husband, cooking, canning, and scratch lottery tickets. She made and sold many different types of breads and fudges for Apple Acres farm stand in Gorham. She was a passionate “Rosarian” earning ribbons for her many roses that were submitted to rose shows.

Wilda was predeceased by her husband, Henry A. Theriault (1924–2010); her father, Thomas J. Pelletier (1877–1947), her mother, Marie Louise (Fournier) Pelletier (1886–1978); her son, David Theriault (1961–2022), her daughter, Leeann Theriault (1968–1968); her great-grandson, Angel Theriault (2008–2024); and stepdaughter, Carol Pike (1944–2013); as well as her brother, Edward Pelletier (1917–1944), her sister, Lillian (Pelletier) Walker (1924–1989), and her sister, Arline (Pelletier) Butler (1919–2009); and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Wilda is survived by her daughter Florence “Teri” (Theriault) Stevens / Michael of Standish, son Thomas Theriault / Ann of Gorham, daughter Cynthia “Cindy” (Theriault) Tibbetts / Walter of Waterboro, daughter Marie Theriault of Portland and daughter Lisa Theriault of Portland; 23 grandchildren (including spouses); and 34 great grandchildren.

Friends and family are invited to a time of visitation on Monday April 14, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home 199 Woodford Street Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday April 15 at 11 a.m. at St Pius X Catholic Church, 492 Ocean Avenue Portland. Interment will immediately follow at New Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to leave condolences for the Theriault family and sign Wilda’s online guestbook.



Wilda Mae (Pelletier) Theriault