Abel R. Saucier Obituary (2017)

On July 15, 2017, Abel Real Saucier passed away peacefully early Saturday morning with his daughters by his side. He was 81 years old. He was born on April 2, 1936 in Portland, Maine to Abel and Jeanette Saucier. He was raised in Biddeford on Bradbury St. During his childhood years he was an Altar boy, a paper boy, and a boy scout. He attended St. Louis High School, (1951-1954). In 1954, his family moved to Saco on Lillian Ave. At that time Abel transferred to Thornton Academy, Saco. He enjoyed playing varsity football and basketball for both high schools. During his later school years he worked in Old Orchard Beach managing donkey rides and later was a shoe salesman. He had many fond memories of his childhood and school years being with his sisters Ella and Patricia, his cousin, Elden Pelletier, and his close friend, Aime Lamontagne. In April of 1953 when he turned the age of 17, he enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. This will mark the beginning of his long career of service for his country and community. He graduated Thornton Academy in 1955. After high school, he was employed at Lady Pepperell Mill, Biddeford where he met his future wife, Monique Dubious of Arundel. In 1956, he transferred from the Marine Reserves to U.S. Army. In July of 1958, he married Monique at St Joseph Church, Biddeford. The young couple finished Abel's Army career in 1959, at Fort Hood, TX, where he was a radar equipment repairman/Foreman. That year, Abel and Monique moved to Biddeford. In 1960, Abel became a civilian employed by the U.S. Navy at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where for 33 years he advanced through several positions including, pipe fitter, silencing, and production controller. While working for the U.S. Navy he experienced many trips abroad that exposed him to many cultures and landscapes that included Scotland, Spain, Italy, Guam, Morocco, Hawaii and the Bahamas. He retired from the Navy Yard in April, 1993. Abel had a large family with six children. Five of the children, Linda, Normand, Raymond, Louise, and Roland, were born while Abel and Monique lived in Biddeford. Their youngest, Brenda, was born two years after Abel and Monique moved to Sanford in 1973. The family enjoyed many activities together, of which camping with the families of his childhood close friends, Aime and Elden, were probably the most memorable for Abel. One of those family camping trips was marked by Abel rescuing a drowning young girl from a lake. As time moved on, his children and their families would gather routinely together at Abel's home for Sunday dinner. This maintained a closeness between all family members. The most special Sunday family gathering was for Easter 2008. As Abel's family gathered to celebrate Easter together, they had a surprise for Abel and Monique. Although their fiftieth wedding anniversary date was yet in July, Monique had been struggling with breast cancer and she didn't have long to live. She had been looking forward toward her wedding anniversary but at that point in time she resigned herself to missing it. However, to her and Abel's delight the family decided to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary that day. The following day, Monique peacefully passed away. Abel enjoyed serving his community during his life time. While in Biddeford, he founded and participated in the Head Start Program which helped the schooling needs for young children. In Sanford, he was involved with SSYAA basketball as a referee and a coach. He was chairman for the board of directors St. Joseph Credit Union. As a devout catholic, for St Ignatius Church, he was a choir member, Eucharist minister, and a parish council member. He was also involved with the Elks, he was the state chaplain and later earned the highest position of Exalted Ruler. He was member with Knights of Columbus and a chaplain for the Masons. In 2000, Abel was honored by becoming his political party's Sanford district nominee and campaigned for the House of Representatives seat for the State of Maine. Although Abel had many activities and commitments with family and community, he did managed time for himself to escape into books. He was an avidreader of novels that usually contained geographical and historical backdrops. This pastime of literature only complimented and enhanced his real world experiences that he gained through his professional service and travels. During his retirement years, Abel kept himself busy by working part time for Hannaford, and later as a school bus driver for the Sanford school system. Abel really enjoyed driving for the athletes of the various sports teams that represented Sanford. Abel's ability to speak French fluently while managing pedestrian traffic proved to be a positive experience for him while he was employed by the town of Ogunquit to drive trolleys. In 2015, Abel married Agnes Abrahamson of Springvale. They resided together at Sentry Hill at York Harbor between 2015 and 2017. Survivors include, his wife, Agnes Abrahamson Saucier, daughter, Linda Morin and husband John, of West Newfield, sons Norman Saucier of New Britain CT., and Raymond Saucier and wife Diane of Sanford, a daughter, Louise Hodgdon and husband Gary of Sanford, a son Roland Saucier of Berlin, Germany, a daughter Brenda Ryder and husband Lincoln of Winslow, and two sisters, Ella Lamontagne, of Old Orchard Beach, and Patricia Hall, of Springfield, MA, grandchildren, Dan and his wife Kate, Keith, Michael and his wife Kim, Gabrielle, Julianna, Nate and his wife Sarah, Valerie, Colby, and Haley, and great grand children, MacKenzie, Matthew, Mitchell, Aubrey, and Silas. A time of visitation will be held, on Sunday, July 23, 2017 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 24, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish Holy Family Church, 66 North Ave., Sanford, with a burial following at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Sanford. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38101. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence, please click condolence tab at left.