Stephen Plourde

SKOWHEGAN – Stephen Plourde, 62, passed away on Aug. 29, 2023, at the Androscoggin Hospice House after a recent cancer diagnosis.

He was the baby of the family, born on Dec. 27, 1960, in Skowhegan to Leon Plourde Jr. and Charlene (Ambrose) Plourde. He claimed that being born so close to Christmas, his birthday gifts were usually a couple of packages pulled from his Christmas present pile. After he was born, he was not able to come home for several days since his three siblings were sick with chicken pox. With that delay arriving home, Stephen was teased as to whether the hospital sent home the wrong baby. But there was no doubt he was a Plourde through and through and was told many a time, “You look and sound just like your dad.”

Stephen graduated from Skowhegan High School in 1979. He held a variety of jobs through the years including painting and carpentry plus 13 years as a senior business consultant and training coordinator for Subway of Maine where he traveled to Subway stores statewide, with a special fondness for his trips to Aroostook County. His current job was managing Circle K service stations in Skowhegan and Augusta.

Stephen was known as the Cat Guy and had a license plate saying so. His kitties were his kiddies. Along with his ex-wife, Jennifer Chandler, they made the purr-fect home for Bowie, Hazel, Aja, Kashmir, Abby, Maxfield, Parrish, Rose, Otto (the three-legged cat), Lowell, and Jane. Stephen rescued Rosie at a yard sale, where he asked, “Is your cat for sale?” The lady said, “Actually, we’ve been thinking it’s time to get rid of her, but we’re not sure.” Stephen gave the lady his number and said, “Please call me if you decide to.” After not hearing anything for two days, he went back to the yard sale house and said, “Please, I want your cat.” The lady agreed and Stephen brought home a flea-ridden Rosie, who had just hit the jackpot of feline nirvana. Stephen most recently lost Jane in 2022, which broke his heart. He so wanted another cat or a pair of kittens, but he was working too many hours and didn’t think it would be fair to them. He won’t be leaving his cats behind though. He has their ashes saved in special containers and has asked that their ashes be mixed with his and spread in a “pretty place.”

Stephen had a quick wit and always made the conversation about the other person, not himself. He was also the memory keeper for his family. Not only did he have everyone’s phone numbers memorized, but he also remembered all the details of his childhood adventures, both the good times and the times when someone got in trouble. If Stephen said “this” was what happened, everyone knew it was the truth.

He loved history and was a supporter of the Skowhegan History House. He was a lifetime member of the Waterville Area Humane Society. He also loved watching the Red Sox, the Three Stooges, classic rock, dancing, Hawaiian shirts, his mother’s homemade bread, eating bowlfuls of whipped cream, and golfing with his brother Michael, whom he let win once in a while. He took pride in his beard which he started growing at the age of 14. He also was proud of his unusual middle name, Ovella, which was the name of his maternal grandfather.

He enjoyed spending time with his unofficial “son” John Nolin and John’s husband Chris. Stephen, like his father, gave the best hugs and the best compliments, brightening many a person’s day. He loved nothing more than spending time with family and friends. In fact, the family had a true gift, not realizing what a special memory it would be, of a BBQ filled with laughter, food, and hugs just two days before Stephen became seriously ill and was hospitalized.

Stephen is survived by his mother, Charlene Plourde of Skowhegan; his sister, Cathy Ames and her husband Calvin of East Madison and Naples, Fla., his sister, Lynn Plourde and her husband Paul Knowles of Winthrop, and his brother, Michael Plourde of Skowhegan; along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the ICU and M1 floors of CMMC, as well as Androscoggin Hospice House, for their compassionate care of Stephen.

A celebration of Stephen’s life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Tewksbury Hall, Weston Avenue, on the island in Skowhegan. Please feel free to wear a Hawaiian shirt and bring a favorite Stephen story to share.

Please visit Stephen’s memorial page, https://dsfuneral.com/obituaries/stephen-plourde-2023 to share condolences, memories, and photos of Stephen with his family and friends.

Donations in Stephen’s memory may be made to the

Waterville Area Humane Society (to benefit cats),

100 Webb Road,

Waterville, ME 04901

https://hswa.org

Stephen Plourde