1932 – 2015
AUBURN — Cecilia M. Harkins, 82, of Lewiston passed away on Friday, Aug. 7, in Auburn.
She was born in Lewiston on Oct. 31, 1932, to Michael T. Harkins and Marjorie (Ham) Harkins, the fourth child of seven. Educated in Lewiston schools, she earned her ORT license at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. Cecilia worked several years as Dr. Wilfred Cloutier’s scrub nurse in the recovery room and emergency room and during minor surgery. She loved the medical field and later pursued her registered nurse certification in Lynn, Mass. Later, she worked in home health and kidney centers in Massachusetts and Maine. She retired from nursing in 1997, working during the summer at Augusta West Kampground in Winthrop.
She married Frederic Aberle Sr. in 1950 and they had three children, Patricia, Frederic Jr. and Karren. In 1967, she married Roland E. Lachance, and they had one child, Jonethan. Her longtime companion, Gratien Roy, was her soul mate and blessing.
Cecilia enjoyed meeting old and new friends, baking and sharing her cakes, pies and whoopie pies with campers. She made 49 cut-and-tie blankets in 2012, giving them to friends and family. Her hobbies were playing the piano, bird-watching, garage sales and gardening. Her happiest times were spent with her family. Very important to her were Christmas family reunions, which she hosted up until she was 78. Her family was her gift from God. She was known for sending cards for all occasions and thoughtful notes to people she cared about, and she was first to respond if family was in need. She also she kept a diary for 30 years. Her pets were her dog, Corky, and her cat, Kia.
She leaves behind four children, Patricia Aberle of Lewiston, Frederic Aberle Jr. and wife, Linda, of Auburn, Karren Aberle of Mercer, and Jonethan Lachance and wife, Shawnna, of Wells; brother, Mike Harkins and wife, June, of Waterboro; sister, Rose and husband, Dewey Stephenson, of Waterboro; brothers-in-law, Eugene Connors and Norman Hankins; Cecilia’s longtime companion, Gratien (Bob) Roy of Lewiston; grandchildren, Marcia, Erika, Stacie, Annie, Caitlin, Megan and Aarron; great-grandchildren, Nathan, Kayleigh, Jared, Annabelle, Jackson, Jayce and Cayden; several nieces and nephews; a special niece of Greene, Deb Landerville; extended family, Sue, Mike, Beth and Bob St. Hillare, and Mike, Mickalla, Aiden and Dayson Roy, all of Lewiston; and former husband, Roland Lachance of Wells.
She was predeceased by both parents; brother, Dan Harkins; sister, Arline and her husband, Harry Philbrook; sister, Louise Hankins; and nephew, Sam Hankins; sister, Barbara Connors; grandson, Jared Marchetti; great-grandson, Aiden Brophy; and first husband, Frederic Aberle Sr.
Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.
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