Passages

Ruby MacLellan, ViolaTunney, Clifford Fletcher

By Rev. Sue Murphy

Ruby M. MacLellan, 97, of Sanford, died on Jan. 28, 2024. She was born on April 10, 1926, the daughter of Perley and Mabel Whitten. Ruby and her nine siblings grew up in Kennebunkport. She attended Northeastern Business College, graduating in 1945, and went on to work as a private secretary at Randall and McAllister in Portland. She married Robert S. “Mac” MacLellan in 1947 and they had two children, Edward and Judith. Ruby began a 30-year career in insurance at Garnsey Brothers in Sanford. Mac and Ruby were married for almost 64 years until his death in 2011. During their retirement, Mac and Ruby enjoyed riding their motorcycles through all 50 states and Canada. They were members of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association and Retread Motorcycle groups. After Mac’s passing, Ruby married Paul Roberts in 2014. Ruby enjoyed walking outside and staying as active as she could. Together, she and Paul put together hundreds of puzzles and shared a good sense of humor. Ruby was preceded in death by her siblings, her son, Edward W. MacLellan (1979), first husband, Robert (2011), and second husband, Paul Roberts (2023). She is survived by her daughter, Judith (Richard) Lajoie of Berwick and daughter-in-law, Nancy (Garry) Junkins of Sanford. Also surviving are her four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Private burial of her cremated remains will take place this spring at Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford. Read her full obituary at https://memorials.bibbersautumngreen.com/ruby-maclellan/5372760/index.php.

Viola Lea (Porter) Tunney, 78, passed away peacefully on Jan. 24, 2024, surrounded by family and friends after a brief illness. She was born in Sanford on March 21, 1945, the second child of Lea (Lacasse) and Henry Porter. Two weeks after graduating from Sanford High School, Viola moved to Washington D.C., where she began working for the Kennedy Administration. A few years later, Viola relocated to California to work for the Old Mint in San Francisco. While there, Viola married John Tunney of Donegal, Ireland in 1968. After leaving the workforce to care for her three children, Viola returned and began her next career with the U.S. Postal Service in Oakland, California. Viola eventually moved back to Maine, continuing her career with the USPS in Portland, making several friends with her wit and sense of humor. Viola’s caring nature brought her back to the workforce as a certified nursing aide assisting the elderly in their homes. She found enjoyment playing cards with friends, traveling, and taking several bus trips to Foxwoods Casino to play slot machines. Viola is survived by her daughter, Lea (Kevin) Foley of Falmouth, sons, John Tunney of California and Kevin Tunney of Springvale, two brothers, Lester (Judy) and John (Ruth) Porter, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours are on May 10 from 8:30-9:30 am at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home and funeral mass to follow at 10:00 am at Notre Dame Church, 10 Payne Street, Springvale. Read her full obituary at https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/viola-tunney.

Clifford D. Fletcher, 90, of Springvale, died Friday Feb. 2, 2024, in Scarborough. He was born in Sanford on July 25, 1933, the son of Rosetta Fletcher. He grew up in Springvale and graduated from Sanford High School. Shortly after graduation, Cliff enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for almost four years. After he returned from the Navy, Cliff worked at Thurston Aircraft, building float planes and later at Wasco until his retirement. He married Jeannette Manseau on Sept. 30, 1952. Cliff enjoyed working in his garden and feeding the many birds that flocked to his yard. He was a quiet man who said, “You learn more from listening than you do talking.” He was a loving and caring husband and father. Clifford is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jeannette, his daughter, Linda Fletcher and her partner, Debra Waters; his friend, Nancy Wentworth and his nieces and nephews, Sandra Davis, Susan Roux, Michael and Albert Fournier. A graveside service was held at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery at noon on Friday, Feb. 9. Read his full obituary at https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/clifford-fletcher.

William Edes, Ann Marie Roberge

William Nathan Edes, 50, of Kennebunk, Maine passed peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. Bill was born May 3, 1973, in Sanford to Dorothy and Wayne Edes, Sr. He graduated from Kennebunk High School in 1992 and then continued to pursue an associate degree at Hesser College. In 2012, he pursued his career on the open road, where he got to see a lot of the country. Bill was a great father, a joy to be around and a good friend to so many, exhibiting patience, kindness, and affability. He was a great listener and always had advice on any issue. He left behind his parents, his two children, daughter, Evelyn Bellemare and her spouse, Tyler Bellemare and his son, Anthony Edes, his older brother, Wayne Jr. and Sara Edes and their children, Zachary, Isabella and Maggie. A celebration of life for Bill will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 2 to 4 pm with sharing of memories at 3 pm at Autumn Green Funeral Home, 47 Oak St., Alfred. Read his full obituary at https://memorials.bibbersautumngreen.com/william-edes/5373695/index.php.

Ann Marie (Sinibaldi) Roberge, 87, of Springvale, and formerly of Berlin, NH, passed away on Saturday February 3 at the Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. She was born in Berlin on July 25, 1936, the daughter of Attillo and Donilla (Dalphonse) Sinibaldi. She lived in the area for many years before moving to Maine in 1985, where she had since resided. She loved sports, especially football and hockey, and she liked the beach. Ann had worked at The Globe Department Store. Ann was predeceased by her husband Richard A. Roberge. Surviving her are her sons Kevin Roberge and wife Nicole, Scott Roberge and Risa, Russell Roberge and Diane, 4 grandchildren and siblings Nella Norton, Richard Sinibaldi, Joey Sinibaldi, and her long-time companion Joe Willey of Springvale.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 16, at 1 pm at Holy Family Church in Gorham, NH. Interment will follow in the Holy Family Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 1 Promenade St., Gorham, NH on Friday, February 16, from 10:30-12:30, prior to the Mass. Read her full obituary here https://www.bryantfuneralhome.net/obituaries/ann-marie-roberge