Ruth Annette Bourque

WATERVILLE – Ruth Annette Bourque passed away surrounded by family on Sept. 10, 2023 at MaineGeneral Medical Center, just days shy of her 94th birthday.

Ruth was born in Waterville on Sept. 23, 1929, daughter of Odilon A. Mathieu and Laura (Michaud) Mathieu. She was educated in Waterville schools and later married Raymond L. “John” Bourque on May 29, 1954. They were married for 63 years.

Ruth was a homemaker, an avid reader, an excellent cook (known for her baking powder biscuits, a good batch of spaghetti, tourtière pie and her chocolate fudge), loving mother and known fondly as “Mémère” to her two granddaughters and “Mémère Ruth” to her three great granddaughters. She loved spending time with family, always enjoyed going to school events and games for her granddaughters, playing cards (she always won!), recalling old stories, and spoiling her grandchildren and granddogs over the years. She loved to take day trips to various places in Maine – grabbing a crabmeat roll in Belfast and visiting other coastal Maine towns were among her favorites. Her joy for discount shopping was ever present – she loved a great trip to Reny’s or the dollar store! She always had a way of keeping her family and friends in stitches whenever we all got together for family events – she was often the life of the party and loved playing the role of “entertainer”.

She is survived by her son-in-law Roger G. Gagne of Winslow; granddaughter Shelley (Gagne) Glidden and her husband John Glidden of South Portland; granddaughter Katie (Gagne) Callow and her husband Brad Callow of Weston, Mass. and her precious great-granddaughters, Madison, Taylor and Blake Callow, to whom she would sing many old-time songs; her nieces Dianna Giguere of Waterville and Juanita Bragdon of Brewer; and long-time friend Sally Morin of Winslow. She was particularly grateful for the support, friendship and care Dianna, Juanita and Sally provided to her following the death of Ruth’s only daughter, Debby, in 2019.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband Raymond; daughter Debby (Bourque) Gagne; sister Pauline (Mathieu) Picard and many sisters and brothers in-law.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to the teams at Sunset Home of Waterville and MaineGeneral Medical Center who cared for Ruth in her final days. Ruth had the good fortune of living a long and healthy life and remained strong and mentally sharp until her very final days. She will live on in the hearts and traditions of her family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street, Winslow at 9 a.m. on Ruth’s birthday, Saturday Sept. 23, followed by a family burial at St. Francis Cemetery in Waterville and reception at St. John’s hall. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers and in support of her love for animals, donations may be made to:

Old Dogs New Digs (https://www.olddogsnewdigs.com/support-us/)

in her memory