Passages

compiled by Rev. Susan Murphy

Ralph J. Fortier, 92, of Sanford, died peacefully Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Summer Commons in Sanford. Ralph was born Oct. 23, 1931, in Sanford, the son of Elzear and Lydia Fortier. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War for two years, attaining the rank of sergeant. Ralph held numerous jobs throughout his life, including working at a few different shoe shops and as a milkman at Sanford Dairy. He retired from Sprague Electric at the age of 62. He always joked that everywhere he worked went out of business. Ralph was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Ronald, Gerard, Lillian, Lucille and Paula. He is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy, sons, Thomas and John (Mary), stepdaughters, Deborah (Steve) Ward, Darlene Normand, Donna Anderson and Diana (Dan) Rutherford. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly. The family would like to thank the staff of Summer Commons for the wonderful care Ralph has received over the past few years. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Parish Holy Family on Wednesday, April 10, followed by a service with military honors at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Read his full obituary at https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/ralph-fortier.

Jane Elizabeth (Mossey) Landry passed away peacefully on March 27, 2024, at the Lodges in Springvale after a short illness. She was born in Fitchburg, MA, on April 29, 1947, to Dorothy (Wood) and Gardner Mossey. Jane graduated from Fitchburg High School and married her high school sweetheart Roger, who promptly whisked her away (much to her mother’s chagrin) to a life of constant relocation in the military. Over the next 23 years, Jane was the epitome of a military wife. She raised her family and moved every four years to eight duty stations. She and Roger settled in Sanford after Roger retired from the Air Force. There, Jane continued her work as an education technician in special education at Carl J. Lamb School. Jane enjoyed reading, traveling, watching “Judge Judy,” dining out with her friends, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Roger, brother, Michael Mossey, and her parents. She is survived by her three children: Darrin Landry and wife, Deb of Saco, Dean Landry and wife, Lorie of Sanford, and Dawn Clark and husband, Justin of Acton, her siblings, Carol Cormier, John Mossey, and Paul Mossey, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a large extended family. She will be buried alongside Roger in a private ceremony later this spring at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale. Read her full obituary at https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/jane-landry.

Donald E. Leach, (Please note there is no picture and this is the full obit.) 87, of Springvale, passed away March 26, 2024. He was born June 27, 1936, in Waterboro to Kenneth and Dorothy (Mangar) Leach and raised in Alfred. Donald married Barbara Dyke in 1958 and together they raised seven children. They moved from Alfred to Sanford in 1968 and then bought a farm on Sunset Road in Springvale in 1970. Barbara passed away in 1998. Donald was a bus driver for Sanford Schools, Massabesic High School and Noble schools. He had a lot of fun with the kids, even earning the nickname “Chunky” from his riders. He enjoyed collecting antique cars through the years and converted school bus #302 to a camper for trips with his family. A graveside service at Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford will be held in May.

Jeannine Normand, 88, of Sanford passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Biddeford after a period of declining health with her family by her side. Jeannine was born in St. Claude, Quebec, Canada on May 28, 1935, the oldest of six children of Emile and Isabelle Normand. She was raised in Canada surrounded by a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. In 1956, Jeannine married the love of her life, Gerard, after knowing him for only three months and moved to the United States to start her own family. Together, they raised their three daughters in Sanford, traveling frequently to Canada to visit family. Jeannine and Gerard were married just short of 60 years when Gerard passed away in 2016. She is survived by her daughters, Diane Conley and her husband, Bill of Sanford, Louise Morrison and her husband, Neal of Gorham, and Denise Normand of Sanford, whom she lived with. She is also survived by her four grandchildren and one great-grandson. Jeannine also leaves behind one brother, Arthur Normand, and his wife, Giselle, one sister, Pauline Levesque and her husband, Denis, and one brother-in-law, Leonard Labrecque, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church on Friday April 12. Burial followed at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Read her full obituary at https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/jeannine-normand.

Ruth D. (Kich) Porter, of Springvale passed away Friday, March 29, 2024, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous, two-year cancer battle. Ruth served as the finance director for the Township of Scarborough and was its first female department head. She began her 42-year career in the finance department on her mother’s birthday, July 28, 1980. Ruth’s directorial oversight led the Town of Scarborough to receive the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) as part of their Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Finance Reporting. The prestigious honor has been awarded each consecutive year since 2005 and is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. Ruth was a devoted mother, raising their children with John on “the Ridge,” with Columbus Day trips to the mountains and summer trips to the beach and lake. After her retirement, Ruth bravely took on her cancer treatments as well joyously celebrating what she loved about Maine with her family: the fall colors, the seasonal changes, the ponds, beaches, and oceanfront, Maine’s pristine air and areas of untouched natural beauty. Ruth is survived by John, her loving husband of 40 years, son Jacot, daughters Jessie and Jillian, and grandson Tyson. Also, three brothers and two sisters and a large extended family. Visiting hours were to be held Friday, April 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St. in Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 13, at 10 am at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, 66 North Ave. Read her full obituary at https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/ruth-porter-2024?utm_source=search&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=standard&cta=fh-website

David E. Spulick, 64, a resident of Lebanon, passed away March 28, 2024, at Maine Medical Center in Portland with his family by his side. David was born July 27, 1959, in Sanford, the son of George Everett and Dorothy Irene (Gay) Spulick. He was a graduate of Sanford High School, class of 1979 and went on to get an associate degree at MacIntosh College several years later. After graduating, he worked in the accounting department at Hilltop Chevrolet in Somersworth, NH, for several years, and then worked as a machinist and at several manufacturing shops in the area, including Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick. David was kind and a hard worker who loved to help family and friends. He loved taking walks on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, saying hello to everyone he walked by. He enjoyed feeding the birds and talked to them while feeding them. David was predeceased by his parents and leaves behind his loving wife, Anita Spulick, his daughter, Allie Dube of Sanford, two sons, Jeremy and Jonathan Spulick, a sister, Debbie Pelletier and her significant other, Joe Werber of Kennebunk, a brother, Doug (Jody) Spulick of Sanford, six grandchildren three great grandchildren, and a large extended family. Visiting hours will be held from 1-3 pm on Saturday, April 13, at Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will follow at the Alfred Parish Church, 8 Kennebunk Road, Alfred with a reception afterwards. https://memorials.bibbersautumngreen.com/david-spulick/5403660/index.php  

Richard Foss Tuttle, 89, of Sanford passed away on March 12, 2024, while snow-birding in Scottsdale, AZ after weeks of battling respiratory syncytial virus and pneumonia. Richard, sixteenth of 19 children, was born on Oct. 14, 1934, in Limington to Martin and Eveleen (England) Tuttle. He spent most of his adolescence in Sanford. Like his brothers before him, Richard entered the military, and served during the Korean Conflict. Richard started a lifetime career as production control manager with Reece Corp. in Waltham, MA in 1959. As the company moved first to Gorham and then Mechanicsville, VA, Richard followed until he retired in 1992. Richard married Cecile Bougie of Sanford in 1960 and started their family in Waltham before settling down in Billerica, MA. He was a member of the Billerica/Sanford Elks Lodge and Sanford Knights of Columbus. He will be remembered for his genuine love for his family and friends. As a father, he promoted strength through kindness, compassion to others, and that humor prevails over sadness. He is survived by his wife, Cecile, sons Michael, Jeffrey and Glenn. He also leaves behind his sisters, Betty Bernier of Sanford and Helena “Lena” Campbell of Wells, one granddaughter and five grandsons. Visiting hours will be held at the Carll-Heald and Black Funeral Home on Friday, June 14, from 3 to 6 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church on Saturday, June 15. Read his full obituary here https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/richard-tuttle.