Marlene Mary (Langlois) McGovern

SACO – Marlene Mary (Langlois) McGovern passed away on Feb. 26, 2025. She was 92.

Born on July 12, 1932, in Boston, Mass., Marlene was the second of three children born to Albert H. and Elsie (McNeil) Langlois.

Having moved to Maine as a young girl, Marlene was educated in Portland schools, graduating from Cathedral High School in 1950. She met her future husband, Kenneth G. “Greg” McGovern, in Portland in 1954, and they were married in 1956.

Following several years in Portland and the birth of their daughter, Kelly, they moved to Winslow. The birth of a son, Ken, completed the family, which resided in this part of Maine for more than a quarter century.

Throughout her time in Central Maine, Marlene looked after the family and worked in various administrative roles for local businesses. She was very active in local clubs, such as Antique Club and Contemporary Club, and had a broad circle of friends throughout the area. Marlene was also as consistent supporter of her children’s school and community activities. Following a relocation to the Greater Portland area in the late 1980s, Marlene worked as a hospice volunteer and a tour guide at the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick.

The first of four grandsons was born in 1986. Known as “Grammie” to all four, Marlene loved this new and important role. She was an avid quilter and each of her grandsons were frequent recipients of her various creations. Marlene also enjoyed travel, and together with Greg, she traveled widely across North America, and enjoyed multiple trips to Ireland, Europe, and Australia.

Marlene was predeceased (November 2024) by Greg, her husband of 68 years. Also, her siblings Frank Langlois and Helen Langlois and their spouses have predeceased her.

She is survived by her daughter, Kelly McGovern Shaw and her husband Bob of Falmouth, and her son, Ken and his wife Michelle of North Vancouver, British Columbia. She is also survived by her four grandsons, Ben Shaw (Falmouth), Cameron Shaw (Auburn) and his wife Sage, Declan McGovern (Victoria, BC) and Mark McGovern (North Vancouver, BC). She is survived by nephews Ken Higgins and Michael Higgins, and a niece, Marianne Langlois.

Special gratitude is extended to Marlene’s loving caregivers at the Inn at Atlantic Heights in Saco, where Greg and Marlene settled in 2023. Their compassion, guidance, and humor were ever present and always valued, especially as dementia slowly took its toll on Marlene. They demonstrate so well that there are angels among us.

A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 5, at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to view Marlene’s tribute page and to sign her online guestbook.