Merlene A. Fyfe

PITTSTON – Merlene A. Fyfe, affectionately known as “Merl the Pearl,” passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday April 19, 2026. Born on July 4, 1938, in Bowdoinham, Maine, Merlene brought love and laughter into the world for 87 beautiful years, leaving behind a life and legacy centered on love, family, and simple joys.

Merlene spent a significant amount of her professional life in the healthcare sector as a Nurses Aid, and her later years as a receptionist at FMI where she retired at the age of 84. Merlene cherished time spent with family and friends, especially sharing music together in the family band, The Freedom Riders. She found happiness in gardening, puzzles, word search games, shopping, and in her earlier years, jitter bugging with her late husband. To Merlene, family was what mattered most, always ensuring she was dressed to the nines for every occasion, her charismatic presence lighting up every family gathering.

Merlene is survived by her beloved children and their families, Charles Rideout (wife, three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren), Cynthia Leighton (four children one grandchild), Kevin Wilson’s four children and one grandchild, Tammy Costigan (husband, three children and two grandchildren), Scott Brann (wife, five children, and one grandchild), Reginald Brann (three children), Ervin Fyfe (wife, five children, and six grandchildren), Tiffany Cunningham (one child), Chad Fyfe (fiancé and one child), Jared Fyfe (wife and two children).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Witham and Hazel Matson; husband Conrad R. Fyfe, Sr.; and son Kevin Wilson.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave, Gardiner, Maine, where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the same location. A private family committal will be held beside her husband at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

We invite everyone who knew and loved Merlene to view the full obituary and share their memories and upload photos to her memorial page at http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, Maine.