Passages
- February 7th 2025
- Passages/Obituaries
Compiled by Rev. Susan Murphy
Charles “Henry” Fournier, 90, of Springvale, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at The Lodges Health Care in Springvale, surrounded by family and friends. Henry was born on Sept. 8, 1934, to Augure and Anastasia (Bougie) Fournier in Sanford, where he grew up and attended grammar school and high school at St. Ignatius School. After graduating, Henry worked for West Point Pepperell Mill in Biddeford, the Saco Tannery and eighteen years at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, retiring in 1998. A devout Catholic, Henry was a longtime parishioner of St. Ignatius Church in Sanford. He and his wife Lorette resided in South Berwick and attended Our Lady of Angels Church. Henry will be remembered as a generous, caring, and loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, and the best stepdad a family could ask for. He was a jokester with a remarkable ability to connect with people and make them laugh. Throughout his life, he found joy in all kinds of music and loved wintering in Florida with Lorette. Henry was predeceased by his wife of 18 years, Lorette Wilkinson-Fournier; his former wives, Jeanne Plante-Fournier and Rita Hubert-Fournier; his sisters, Jeannette LeBlanc and Cecile Morin; and his brother, Albert Fournier. Survivors include nine stepchildren from his marriage to Lorette: Ron (Marcie) Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson, Karen Wilkinson, Annette (Tim) Timmons, Janice Wilkinson, Linda Brown, Mary Wilkinson, Lorraine (David) Thurber, and Scott Wilkinson. He is also survived by his stepdaughter from his marriage to Jeanne, Tina Santos; and a large extended family. A time of visitation was held on Friday, Jan. 31, at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Feb. 1 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church.
https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/charles-fournier.
Derwent Jean Riding, 84, or “Derry”, as she was affectionately known, completed her circle of life surrounded by the love of her family and friends on Jan. 26, 2025. She was born in Sanford on March 5, 1940, to Joyce and Thomas Riding. Derry attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, graduating with a degree in art history. Best known for her independent spirit, her wit, and her wry sense of humor, she was an avid traveler, a reader, a lover of fine art, and a pillar of her community in Bristol, RI. She served the state of Rhode Island as a city planner. Derry was avidly involved in local and state politics and was former member and past president of the Rhode Island League of Women Voters. She was a proponent of preserving historic and culturally significant properties and oversaw many important preservation efforts, including Mount Hope Farm, while on the board of the Bristol Historical Society. Derry had a passion for fine art, literature, music and travel, instilling this love in her nieces and other family members. She loved to travel, and her passport had more stamps than most people’s library cards. She loved music of all kinds and was especially fond of classical music. She was a frequent patron of the Bristol Symphony Orchestra and loved attending concerts where her niece, Katherine Riding Moller, an award-winning Celtic fiddler, performed. For those that knew and loved her, the world lost quite a sparkle with her passing, though the earthquake she brought us the day afterward was notably fitting.
https://blackfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Derwent-Riding.
Gordon Norman Paul, 72, of Sanford, passed away Jan. 31, 2025, at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford. He was born Oct. 28, 1952, in Sanford to Norman and Jean (Burgess) Paul. He grew up in Sanford, graduated from Sanford High School and earned an associate’s degree from Nasson College, where he excelled in playing sports. He went on to become a police officer and police chief for what was then the town of Sanford. After leaving the Police Department, he continued his public service as a member of the town’s board of selectmen and as district manager for the Department of Health and Human Services. He married Yvonne in 1987 and helped raise her two children, Sandi and Gary, with joy and dedication. Gordon spent a great deal of time in the Northern Maine woods, fishing and hunting at his camp. His favorite pastime was playing his guitar and singing Neil Young songs around a bonfire to the delight of old friends. He had a big heart and would always lend a hand to help others. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and stepdaughter, Sandra Corliss. He is survived by the love of his life and wife, Yvonne; stepson Gary Corliss and his grandson, Tyler, of Sanford; brothers David (Keiko) Paul of Augusta and Brian (Janice) Paul of Shapleigh; and a large extended family. Visiting hours will be held from 2-4 pm on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green.
https://memorials.bibbersautumngreen.com/gordon-paul/5547348/index.php
