Frances (Doten) Fecteau

LECANTO, Fla. – Frances Doten Fecteau was born May 26, 1919 in South Paris, Maine to Carroll Doten and Margery Butler. She was the second of three daughters. At a young age, the family moved to Oakland where she attended and graduated from the local high school. She sang in the church choir, school chorus and the school musicals. In 1930, using her babysitting money, she bought herself a violin. She took lessons, played in the school orchestra and also played at some local dances to earn extra money. She graduated from high school in 1936 and immediately went to work in the local town office as a secretary. That fall, while playing at a local dance, she met a young man from Waterville, Frederick Fecteau. He decided he was going to marry her and in 1937 they were married. In 1938 their only child, Juanita, was born.

Fran was years ahead of her time working in various factories starting when her daughter was 4 years of age. During WW2 her husband was drafted and was away in the European Theatre for two years. Upon his return, they built a home in Waterville that they lived in for 40-plus years. In 1954 they bought a camp on North Pond in Smithfield and lived there during the summers while commuting back and forth daily to Waterville to work, he at the Maine Central Railroad and she at Scott Paper Company in the HR department. That camp is still in the family, being owned by the third generation and enjoyed by the fifth generation.

In 1979, she retired from Scott Paper Co. and they built a home and moved to Citrus Springs, Fla. In 1986, her husband passed away. After that, she volunteered at various places including Citrus Memorial Hospital and the Citrus Springs Library. She “retired” from Citrus Springs Library after 25 years of service. She also was a member of the Sweet Adelines for a number of years.

She also was very active at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish since their arrival in 1979. They were considered pioneers of the parish. She worked the bingo games and sang in the choir in two of the three weekend masses. She was a very active member of the Community of Catholic Woman. She worked at all their fund raisers and knitted many baby sets to sell at the holiday bazaar.

After her husband’s passing, she continued to live in her own home until 2016 when she moved in with her daughter in Citrus Springs, Fla.

She had been a resident of Diamond Ridge Health and Rehab since December 2023 and continued reading and doing her jigsaw puzzles.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dick in 1986; parents; and both sisters Erma and Ruth.

She is survived by her daughter, Juanita; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-great- grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff on Cambridge Court at Diamond Ridge for their wonderful care. The family feels everyone thought of her and treated her as their own grandmother. Thanking the activities department for always keeping her supplied with her jigsaw puzzles. As soon as one was completed another just appeared. Thank you, Cambridge Court.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave., Augusta. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the food pantry at

St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Parish

1460 St. Elizabeth Place

Citrus Springs, FL 34434