Jacqueline “ Jackie” Ouellette, age 78, born Oct. 13, 1935, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2014, following complications of a stroke which she suffered in February. She was cared for with kindness and love by the staff at Falmouth by the Sea and the Hospice of Southern Maine to whom the family feels enormous gratitude.

Jacqueline was the daughter of Eva Marie Lavoie Camden and stepfather Harvey Camden and was raised in the Saco area with her four siblings Richard, Robert, Rachel and Patricia. She attended Thornton Academy and in 1955 married Paul Ouellette with whom she had three children. They lived in Saco for many years, relocated to Florida after Paul’s retirement and then returned to live in the Biddeford area 11 years ago as being closer to family and growing grandchildren was very important to her.

Jackie had always been a person of faith, was raised and active in the Catholic Church and had a beautiful voice which she shared in both the choir and in cantering for masses. She was a generous hearted person who volunteered in the food pantry and in many other ways. She was well known for her creative and fun loving spirit as well as for a great innate talent for preparing delicious food. In fact, while living in Florida she was employed as the chef for the rectory of her local Catholic Church creating the fanciest and most gourmet meals that could grace any priests’ tables. The family was also blessed with these talents as she hosted many a family affair as the matriarch of the family especially at holiday times delighting in feeding and treating us all with special care.

She was also a very creative person able to do many different things and those of us who grew up with her watched her assist our father in building our family home together, decorate many a wedding cake and cakes for other occasions, create many enviable Halloween costumes, and many other crafts. She was also a very loyal friend and organized a group of good friends from high school affectionately referred to as “ The Golden Girls” with whom she regularly got together for theme related events at her home complete with food, festive decorations, and skits.

She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sibling, and became the family matriarch. Above all she taught her children how to be kind and loving people. One of her greatest gifts was to leave her memoirs, which she began like this: “For you, my precious ones: You have always given my life meaning and purpose. With all my love, Mom.” Her family will be eternally grateful to her for this gift and so much more.

She is survived by a daughter P. Lynn Ouellette, M. D. and her husband Thomas J. Keating, M.D., daughter Judith Neveux, son David P. Ouellette; grandchildren Kathryn Keating, Ryan Keating, Tonya Coulter and husband Jamie Coulter, Rodney Neveux and wife Candace Neveux; great-grandchildren Cyrus Coulter, Isaac Coulter, Amon Coulter, Genevive Neveux, Alexander Neveux; siblings Richard Camden, Robert Camden, and PatrIcia Arata; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Paul E. Ouellette in May 2004, her grandson Brendan J. Keating in December 2013, and greatgrandson Ezra J. Coulter in May 2003.

Visiting hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 6, 2014, at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Most Holy Trinity Church, Good Shepherd Parish, in Saco. Burial will be at a later date in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco. To sign the guest book or send condolences, go to www.cotefuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 U.S. Route One #1, Scarborough, ME 04074 or online at www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org.

“There is a sacredness in tears.

They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.

They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.

They are messengers of overwhelming grief … and unspeakable love.”

— Washington Irving