Obituary: Rose E. Coutu

Rose Elizabeth Mahoney Coutu, 91, a resident of Seal Rock in Saco and a former resident of Sanford, died peacefully at Seal Rock on Saturday, November 20, 2021.

Rose was born May 29, 1930 and was the youngest daughter of John and Lillian Wright Mahoney.  She attended Sanford schools and went on to obtain a certificate as a certified nurse aid.

Rose’s long and varied job history included working as a waitress at Valley’s Steakhouse in Kittery, as a retail associate at Papas and Hooz’s in Sanford, Porteous, Mitchell and Braun in Portland and Aletta’s Dress Shop in Springvale.  She also worked in the textile industry at Brooks Woolen Mills and at the Baxter Woolen Mills and also at Vishay-Sprague in Sanford.

As a natural caregiver who enjoyed helping people, Rose put her certified nursing aid skills to good use at several area nursing homes including St. Joseph’s Manor in Portland, Waban Projects in Sanford, and Hillcrest Nursing Home in Sanford where she also performed duties as an activities assistant.  She instilled the value of hard work in her children and was proud of their accomplishments.

Following a 29 year marriage to Robert Morey, Rose remarried in 1981 to Donald Coutu.  She was a longtime parishioner of St. Ignatius Church.  Rose enjoyed music, singing and dancing.  She also played the saxophone, the violin and enjoyed singing in the church choir.  She liked sewing, knitting, crocheting and ceramics.  Rose was an avid cook and baker and particularly enjoyed baking wedding cakes.  She also liked to play games, especially bingo and rummy.

Upon retirement, Rose and Donald spent many summers traveling and camping, including a cruise to the Bahamas and trips to the White Mountains, Ohio, Oregon and Disney World.  She also had the opportunity to accompany her friend on a trip to England.  Rose had been a member of the Ruth Chapter #14, Order of the Eastern Star as well as a longtime member of the Sanford Lions Club.

Rose was predeceased by her first husband Robert Morey, her second husband Donald Coutu, a son, David Morey and two siblings, Herbert Mahoney and Marilyn Cluff.

Surviving are two children, Catharine Markland and her husband Clyde and patricia Davis and her husband Andrew; a daughter-in-law, Sandi Morey; five step-children, Margarite McDonald and her husband Paul, Gerald Coutu and his wife Carol, Denise Day and her husband Dale, Collette Cushing and her husband gary and Ann Rofman and her husband Jim; 19 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.  With averyone she knew, Rose always ended a conversation with the words “I love you.”

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 24^th at the St. Ignatius Cemetery located on Berwick Road in Sanford.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a memorial contribution to Waban Projects Inc., 5 Dunaway Drive, Sanford, Maine 04073. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.