Pauline Florence Paul

Pauline Florence Paul, 96, of Kennebunk and formerly of Biddeford, passed away surrounded by her family at home on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

She was born in Pittsburg, New Hampshire on July 26, 1927, a daughter of Wilfred and Yvonne (Bissonnette) Thibault. She was educated from St. Albert's School in Riverside, New Hampshire.

Pauline moved to Red Bank in South Portland with her family during WWII at 15yo after her father went to work for the shipyard. By the end of the war, they had moved to Saco where she met her future husband Gerard and was married on July 24, 1947. They lived in Biddeford where she was employed by Pepperell Manufacturing and retired after 25 years of service.

Her family was her life. She was very proud of the accomplishments of her three children who had come from humble beginnings, including her son who became CEO and owner of Wood Structures in Biddeford and daughters who each owned rental properties and her youngest who owned her own businesses. She worked hard in the mill for years saving to help pay for their college educations so they would never have to work in one.

After raising her children, she dedicated her life to babysitting her four granddaughters and later, her 6 great grandchildren until they no longer needed babysitting. That time included many an overnight when parents were away or just so she could be as much a part of their lives as she could be while helping out. At 85+ years old she was still sitting on the floor playing with her youngest great granddaughter. And she never shied away from playing any game with them that they wanted. She taught them all to play cribbage, a beloved family game that was a part of her household every day until her husband passed. They were the loves of her life, and she rocked every one of them until they could no longer both fit in the rocker together. Besides babysitting, she spent many hours helping her adult children in any way she could. She would help with painting and wall papering, cleaning, yard work, and she even managed her daughter's llama herd at 70 when her daughter was out of town.

Besides dedicating her life to her family, she had many interests and skills.

She was an avid seamstress making her young children's clothes as well as her own. There wasn't much she couldn't do with her straight stitch 1946 model Kenmore! She taught both of her daughters and several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren how to sew. Her youngest daughter began making clothes at 8 years old while not needing much assistance because she had spent so many hours watching her mom's expertise at pinning, cutting, and sewing. That led to a life-long passion of family sewing and crafting projects with her daughters, making quilts together as gifts for family members and Christmas decorations while throwing in lots of other crafting projects to the mix including embroidery, knitting, and crochet. After retirement she became the family sock maker knitting socks for family members to keep their feet warm in winter until her vision made it difficult for her to continue.

Pauline was also an avid gardener. She spent her early years on a farm watching her mother tend the garden and grow the family's food including corn which was her favorite food in the whole world! She finally found the opportunity in 1974 to grow her own when she and her husband moved to a home on Graham Street in Biddeford that had a huge back yard where she continued to garden and grow corn until she was about 85. There she tended a garden that fed not only she and her husband but kept the rest of the family in as many fresh vegetables as they wanted including her beloved "butter fruit" corn that she started from seed in the house and individually transplanted to a 20' x 30' plot to assure that she had a plant on every inch of soil possible! With 1 ear of corn per stalk planted about a foot apart, in rows 18" apart that's about 30 dozen (360) ears of corn per year. Whatever wasn't eaten fresh was frozen. She grew and pickled her own homegrown beets to last the winter which was the preferred side dish to eat with the many French pork pies that she made all her life. Once she could no longer tend her large garden after her husband passed, she continued to grow radishes, green beans, and cucumbers in grow boxes each year and already had gotten her seeds for this coming spring.

Besides her pork pies, some of the foods Pauline's family will remember her most for are her homegrown corn, apple and strawberry rhubarb pies, homemade bread and monkey rolls, Mac N Cheese, corn chowder, roast pork, and prolific batches of homemade French fries.

Most of all, Pauline loved the time she spent with her family in any way she could. She liked to be active with them. Hiking and canoeing were regular favorites along with weekly beach walking with her oldest daughter and granddaughter most of the year. She would have been happiest if they could have all lived under one roof. She always looked forward to her daughter coming to stay with her for several weeks at a time multiple times a year. Though she dearly loved all her family, she especially cherished her great grandchildren who brought her much joy in every way. Many special memories were made that the family will hold on to and cherish forever. She has left them with a void in their hearts that can only be filled with their many beautiful memories of her. They feel blessed to have had her in and part of their lives for so many years.

Besides her family, Pauline was loved by everyone who knew her. She was a practical and pragmatic beautiful, classy lady with integrity. At times she would show some spunk and sass. She was appreciative and grateful for any kindness shown her. Her big heart allowed her to give her love unconditionally and her grandchildren had the fortune of a true friend in her. She will be sadly missed not only by her family, but by everyone who knew her.

She was predeceased by her husband Gerard G. Paul on January 27, 2015 and by siblings Theresa Roberge, Roger Thibault, Philip Thibault and Albert Thibault.

She is survived by three children Sandra Paul, Mary Gale Bellew and husband William and Frank Paul and wife Diane. She is also survived by four grandchildren Merrilee Paul and husband David Ross, Melanee Paul, Megan Fernandez and husband Matthew and Sarah Ashe and husband Jeremy, six great grandchildren Henry, Jackson, Owen, Frank, Finley and Olivia, her sister Lucille Thibault, nieces and nephews.

Burial will be held at St Joseph's Cemetery on "TBD". To view Pauline's memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com