LEWISTON — A Mass of Christian Burial honoring the life of Carmel Brassbridge was celebrated by The Rev. Lionel Chouinard Wednesday at Holy Cross Church of the Prince of Peace Parish after prayers at the Pinette & Lynch Funeral Home led by Carmel’s brother-in-law, Paul Ouellette. At the beginning of Mass, Carmel’s grandchildren each placed a single rose in a vase in front of the altar in honor of their grandmother. Carmel’s children, Christine Malinowski and Gerard Desjardins draped their mother’s casket with a burial pall representing Carmel’s baptism into a new spiritual life with God. Carol Ann Galban, Carmel’s daughter then placed her mother’s prayer shawl over her mother’s pall. The first reading was proclaimed by brother-in-law, Paul Ouellette, and the second reading was proclaimed by sister-in-law, Marie Mae Roy. The offertory gifts were brought to the altar by Carmel’s godchild, Claudette Dubec and also by granddaughter and godchild, Theresa Galban. Words of remembrance were shared at the conclusion of Mass by Carmel’s daughter, Carol Ann Galban. A delegation from the local Red Hat Society were also in attendance at church. After a procession to St. Peter’s Cemetery, Father Chouinard recited committal prayers along with Carmel’s oldest granndaughter, Tiffany Malinowski. Pallbearers were Raymond Lacombe, Albert and Bernard Ouellette, Venise Cyr, Celeste Francisco, Annette Lapointe and Alan Defosse. After the committal all were invited to a reception of fellowship at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.
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