She was born in Portland on June 9, 1932, to Germaine (Carignan) and Albert Carignan.
Carmen graduated from Cathedral High School in 1951 and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1954. She was a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Portland before marrying Alcide J.C. Bois on Nov. 11, 1955, and moving to the Brunswick/Topsham area. There she continued nursing at local health care facilities, finally retiring at Dionne Commons in 1995.
Taking a break from her nursing career, she raised her large family and operated an in-home day care.
She enjoyed being with her family most of all. She attended every wedding and graduation no matter the location. She was an avid reader, loved knitting, traveling, watching the Red Sox, Patriots, figure skating competitions and “Dancing with the Stars.” She was a proud member of the Red Hat Society. Carmen will be remembered for her optimism, words of wisdom, sense of humor and generous heart.
Besides her husband of 48 years, she was predeceased by her parents and her loving stepmother Gertrude (Carrier) Carignan whom she always referred to as Mom.
Carmen is survived by sons, Eugene and his wife Carol Stackpole of Center Sandwich, NH, and Richard and his wife Dolly of Lewiston; daughters, Margaret and her husband Ron Noragon of Topsham, Susan and her husband Michael Lambert of Poquoson, VA, Diane and her husband Tracy Humphrey of Dresden, Lisa and her husband Charles Beaudoin of Lyman, Carolyn of Topsham, Elaine and her husband Roland Blier of Brunswick, and Sharon Bois-McAnally of Yorktown, VA; sisters, Jeanine Valley and Marthe Shiver; brothers, Albert, Leo and Richard Carignan. She had 19 grandchildren, Troy, Brian and Donald Bois, Sarah and Matthew Noragon, Gregory, Kevin and Dana Lambert, Heather (Bois) Bruskin, Brianne (Humphrey) Henderson and Erin Humphrey, Corey, Ian and Colleen Beaudoin, Rebecca, Laura and Jason Blier, Joshua and Bronwyn McAnally and six greatgrandchildren, Troy Bois Jr., Addyson Reece, Abby and Sawyer Bruskin, Colby Henderson and Aurora Blier, and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give special thanks to the ICU staff at Central Maine Medical Center and Mid Coast Hospital, Dr. Pamela Gardiner, Dr. James Wasserman, Dr. Hal Sreden, and the staff at Horizon’s Rehabilitation Center for the loving care shown to Carmen during her illness.
Friends and family are invited to visit 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick, ME. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at noon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at St. Charles Boromeo Church, McKeen Street, Brunswick. Memories and condolences can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
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