OBITUARIES | Sept. 13, 2026 – BIDDEFORD GAZETTE

A review of this week’s obituaries from the Biddeford Saco area

CAROL THARPE

Sept. 20, 1942 – Sept. 4, 2026

HOPE MEMORIAL CHAPEL | Carol (Pendleton) Tharpe, 83, of Biddeford; passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Sept. 4, 2026, following a brief illness.

Carol was born in Biddeford, Maine on Sept. 20, 1942, to Daniel Pendleton and Phyllis Nield. Carol attended and graduated from Biddeford Schools. Carol met Donald in Old Orchard Beach.

Carol married her high school sweetheart Donald R. Tharpe on Sept. 23, 1961 in Biddeford. Carol and Don raised their family in Lyman.

Carol is survived by her children; Kenneth D. Tharpe & his wife Jannine Tharpe of Berwick, Maine, Lori Ann Tharpe-Folk & her wife Lisa-Kay Folk of Biddeford; and her daughter Tiffany Prejean of Springvale. Carol is also survived by her grandchildren, Justin Tharpe and his wife Paige of Lyman; Joshua Tharpe and his wife Elizabeth of Limerick; Timothy Tharpe and his partner Haley of Biddeford; Nathaniel Hussey of Springvale and Addysea Boucher of Biddeford.

Carol is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Paityn Tharpe, Kaden Schaffner, Kyler Schaffner, Izaiah Kelly and Kayci Rose Tharpe. Carol leaves two sisters, Periann Carpenter and her husband Rodney of Old Orchard Beach; and Tari Onne George and her husband Thomas George, of Waterboro. Carol also leaves several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews

Carol was pre-deceased by her true love Donald R. Tharpe in 2018, her stepmother Mary Pendleton and her sisters Barbara Ann Gallant, Linda Nield and Paula Pendleton.

Carol enjoyed being the neighborhood babysitter while living in Lyman, she was an assistant coach for Lori’s softball team and a Den mother for Kenny’s cub scouts.

She loved going out to breakfast with Don. Carol made many lifelong friends in Lyman, and she cherished those friends so much. Carol loved and cherished her family and loved spending time with them. Carol was often known as the “cat lady’ for the numerous cats she raised through the years. Carol leaves her current pets MeCa her dog and Tigger and Tiger (pooh bear) her cats.

Carol enjoyed family trips to Florida, trips to Foxwoods and playing her online computer games. Before her husband’s passing in 2018 and when Ken and Lori were kids, they enjoyed family trips to Alabama and Georgia to visit Don’s family as well as going out dancing with friends. Carol was known for doing things her way and was able to communicate her wishes during her failing health and to let us know that she was tired and wanted to go home and be with Dad. | FULL OBITUARY

EDOUARD P. BLAIS

May 12, 1955 – Sept, 5, 2026

COTE FUNERAL HOME | Edouard P. Blais, 71, of Arundel, passed away at home on Saturday, September 5, 2026, after a long illness.

Ed was born in Biddeford, on May 12, 1955, one of nine children to Josephat and Rita (Cote) Blais. He grew up in Saco, and graduated from Thornton Academy, class of 1974.

Ed then enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served overseas as a Communications Specialist in Okinawa, Japan. Upon is honorable discharge, Ed worked for a private government contractor, and had the opportunity to live and work in Guam and Greenland. It was during his time in Guam where Ed learned to scuba dive.

Upon returning to the states, Ed moved back to Saco, his beloved childhood community. Ed worked for Nichols in Portland for 15 years, later transitioning to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he remained for 20 years, until his retirement.

Ed was immensely close to his family, especially his nieces and nephews, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them. He often brought them swimming to the YMCA or to the beach. Ed was the glue the kept the family traditions alive, a role he happily took over after his mother passed away.

As a young man, Ed learned many carving and woodworking skills from his grandfather, and carried these skills with him throughout his life. He found much fulfillment and peace in this craft, and the items he created will be cherished by his family for many years to come. Ed also enjoyed dining out at area restaurants. It didn’t matter the time of day; he was always ready to accompany a sibling or friend to one of his favorite places to eat.

He will be sadly missed by many.

Ed was predeceased by his parents, Josephat and Rita Blais; by three brothers, Gerard Blais, Roger Blais, and Andre Blais; and by his sister, Jeanne Blais.

He is survived by his brother, Francois Blais and wife Andrea; by three sisters; Denise Foster, Marie Thivierge, and Bernadette Spulick; as well as by several nieces and nephews. | FULL OBITUARY

JANET I. DUMONT

June 1, 1937 – Sept. 7, 2026

DENNETT, CRAIG & PATE | Janet I. Dumont, 89, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2026, at Pinnacle Health and Rehab in South Portland.

Janet was born in Biddeford, the daughter of Edward and Thelma Lord. She was raised in Old Orchard Beach alongside her sisters, Barbara and Sharon, attending local schools and graduating from Old Orchard Beach High School in 1955. She went on to earn her degree as a registered nurse from the Maine Medical Center School of Nursing in Portland. In 1959, she married the love of her life, Joseph “Ken” Dumont.

Janet is survived by her three daughters: Laurie Schwartz of South Portland; Kim Dambach and her husband, Tim, of Land O’ Lakes, Florida; and Dawn Hall of Saco. She is also survived by her sisters, Barbara Boutet of Saco and Sharon Stackpole of Norwich, Connecticut, as well as five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Janet was preceded in death by her mother, Thelma Cleaves Lord; her father, Edward Lord, and stepmother, Barbara Lord; her son-in-law, Timothy Schwartz; and her loving husband, Joseph “Ken” Dumont, in January 2026.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at Pinnacle Health and Rehab and Affinity Hospice for their compassionate care of Janet.

A private family burial will take place at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco, Maine. | FULL OBITUARY

ANITA WALLS

August 11, 1941 — Sept. 8, 2026

DENNETT, CRAIG & PATE | Anita Wallls, 85, of Saco, Maine passed away peacefully at home on September 8, 2026, with her loving husband of 61 years by her side.

Anita was born on August 11, 1941, in Sanford, Maine, to Wilfred and Diana Duchette, the oldest of four daughters. She met her future husband through correspondence while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force, and they wed on May 1, 1965.

Anita worked as a surgical technician at both Goodall and Webber Hospitals before moving to Raymond, New Hampshire, where she made a loving home for her family. She and her husband, Douglas, raised their family and lived in Raymond for 42 years where she worked as a dental assistant for many years. She was also the admin extraordinaire for the family-owned lumberyard and hardware store before moving to Saco in 2015.

Anita will be fondly remembered by everyone fortunate enough to enjoy one of her freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, whoopie pies, or widely sought-after English muffins. She took great pride in her home, and her three children are grateful to have grown up with her love and guidance. As her children grew up and had families of their own, Anita cherished her role as Nana to her grandchildren.

Anita is survived by her husband, Douglas; her children, Michael, Stephen with his wife, Darcy, and Kailleigh (Archibald) with her husband, Jonathan; as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A Funeral mass will be held Friday September 18, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity, Main St, Saco.

Burial at Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery, 83 Stanley Road, Springvale. In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial gifts to Catholic Charities of Maine. | FULL OBITUARY

JOHN BRADLEY HUBBARD, Jr.

Sept. 16, 1952 – Sept. 7, 2026

DENNETT, CRAIG & PATE | John Bradley Hubbard, Jr.73 passed away at Maine Medical Center on September 7, 2026. He was born in Portland on September 16, 1952, the son of John B. and Sally (Conant) Hubbard, Sr.

A graduate of Cape Elizabeth High School, John worked in Admissions at Maine Medical Center in Portland for over 30 years.

John enjoyed gardening, shopping at Goodwill for a bargain and especially loved outings to restaurants for a good meal with family.

He was predeceased by his parents and brother, William Hubbard.

John is survived by a brother Timothy Hubbard of York and two sisters Darlene Grant of Biddeford and Shelly Tanner of Burlington, VT, and many nephews and nieces. | FULL OBITUARY

BERNICE DUCHARME PROULX

July 15, 1946 – Sept. 7, 2026

COTE FUNERAL HOME | Bernice Ducharme Proulx passed away on Monday, September 7th, 2026, surrounded by family.

Bernice was born in Lewiston, Maine, on July 15th, 1946, a daughter of Joseph and Bernadette Filliault. She is survived by her sisters, Lorraine Jalbert and Dorothy Rousseau, as well as seven nieces and nephews.

Bernice married Maurice Ducharme, and together they had three children: Tim Ducharme, Dan Ducharme, and Kara Monette. She is survived by her daughter, Kara, and her husband, Gregg Monette, as well as her two grandsons, Cameron and Connor Monette.

Later in life, Bernice married Gerard Proulx, who predeceased her.

Caring for others was central to Bernice’s life. She spent her nursing career in hospice care, providing comfort and compassion to patients and their families.

Bernice loved the ocean, gardening, and playing cards and games with her sisters and family. She will be remembered for her caring nature, her love of family, and the good times they shared. She will be greatly missed.

Visiting Hours will be held from 10 – 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, Saco. A Funeral Service will follow at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, Saco.

To view Bernice’s memorial page of leave an online condolence, please visit cotefuneralhome.com | FULL OBITUARY

PHILIPPE WILLIAM PELLETIER

Jan. 4, 1948 – June 25, 2026

DAIGLE FUNERAL HOME |June 25, 2026, was a gorgeous sunny summer day, and it was also the day that Philippe William Pelletier, 78, the handsome, hilarious, dog loving, motorcycle riding, genius, warrior of a human being slipped away from us on a breeze of salt air.

He left us on his own terms. In the sunlight and open air on his front deck, in the company of Teemu, the Pomeranian, his newly planted sunflowers, and his much-loved native songbirds.

Phil was born in Hampton, Va., January 4, 1948 the eldest son of Joseph A. Pelletier and Iris V. (Leckie) Pelletier. Phil spent his childhood in Biddeford Maine, attending local schools. In 1966 at the age of 18 Phil enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

In 1967 he deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines. On January 13, 1968, he suffered from wounds which would end his military career at the age of 20. Corporal Pelletier was the recipient of the three Purple Hearts.

Phil moved to Phippsburg in 2006 with then girlfriend Kate and their four dogs. He quickly formed friendships with anyone who fished commercially or for recreation. He found new motorcycling friends as well, Roland and Brian.

Phil was involved in the local motorcycle community as well. He regularly supported their charity events including Stoney’s Lobster Run and the U.B.M. Toy Run.

Phil found all the local beaches and fishing spots and enjoyed everything that then tiny Phippsburg had to offer including becoming the animal control officer in 2009, a role that brought enormous purpose to his life.

Phil was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brother, Joseph A. Pelletier and sister Patricia A. Pelletier.

He leaves behind his wife, Kathleen Pelletier and loyal Pomeranian Teemu of Phippsburg, sons Levi J. (Heather) Pelletier of Brunswick and Seth A. Pelletier of Juneau, Alaska. Sister, Jean M. Roebuck of Jacksonville N.C. also, Dianne Boucher, of Bowdoin, ME mother of his two sons, two grandsons, Devin Favreau (Casey) of Westbrook and Dionne Pelletier of Brunswick, along with several nieces, nephews, as well as cousins in Australia.

Kate and all the family wish to extend their profound gratitude to the literally hundreds of medical professionals in the Maine health care system who assisted Phil for decades. Your skills, knowledge, kindness and compassion allowed us to have Phil with us for as long as possible.

There will not be a religious service, however a celebration of life will be held in the late summer. In lieu of flowers, feel free to contribute to a Veterans organization or animal welfare organization in Phils name.

Semper Fi, Phil. READ FULL OBITUARY | HERE

ROBERT ODDO

HOPE MEMORIAL CHAPEL | Robert Oddo, of Biddeford, passed away on September 8, 2026.

At the family’s request, there will be no services.