Constance C. Tetu Obituary (1926 - 2011)

HOLDEN AND DEXTER - Constance (Goulette) Tetu, 85, passed away August 28, 2011 at the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor. Connie was born in Dexter May 24, 1926, the daughter of Mahile and Edith (Carette) Goulette. After graduating N.H. Fay High School she attended the Maine School of Commerce, which is now Husson University, and later worked at Merrill Trust Co. Connie married Ralph Tetu on June 14, 1947. While raising their four children, Connie worked in the Dexter school system as a teacher's aide and then in the hot lunch program. Throughout life she loved music and dancing. She was a former member of the Dexter Women's Literary Club. At retirement Connie and Ralph wintered in Florida. Connie developed a true passion for shuffleboard and quickly became a pro. She "shuffled" all over Florida and loved every minute of it. When she wasn't enjoying Florida, she was back in Maine playing cards (she really didn't like losing), frying doughnuts, knitting wool socks for her children, and making root beer and/or dandelion wine. At times the brewing was volatile, but it certainly made us laugh. She was a top notch berry picker and even the youngsters had a hard time keeping up with her. When tomato season arrived, she worked nonstop canning so as not to waste a one. We all enjoyed her efforts over the winter. Connie is survived by her husband Ralph; son Thomas and his wife, Carmen Tetu of Holden; daughters Rita and her husband, Dick Hitchcock of Dexter, and Jayne and her husband, Colan Davis of Holden; sisters Rita Larson of Dexter, Dorothy Grawe of Florida; brother Rudolph and his wife, Althea Goulette of Dexter; sister-in-law, Esther Goulette of Garland; grandchildren Ryan Tetu, Carrie White, Alyson Saunders, Megan Hitchcock and Summer Andrews; and 8 great grandchildren. Connie was predeceased by her son Michael in 1971; brothers Vallair, Cassimer and Bernard; 2 sisters Imogene Keene and Eleanor Mace. The family wishes to thank the Maine Veterans Home for their loving care of our mother. Relatives and friends may call from 5 to 8 PM, Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at Crosby & Neal, 61 Main Street, Dexter. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 AM, Thursday, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Dexter, with the Rev. Fr. Kent Oulette. Burial will follow at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Activities Dept., Maine Veterans Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401 or to the American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.