Marie "Dolores" Retelle's Obituary
Marie Dolores ‘Dee’ Retelle. Dee passed away peacefully at the Nevin’s nursing home surrounded by her loving family. She joined her mom, Viola, her grandson, little Tony, and other loving family members in heaven. Dee had 9 children, 11 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
She was born on February 19, 1934 in Lawrence, daughter of the late Joseph Levesque and Viola (Livingston) Levesque. She grew up in North Lawrence with her two brothers and four sisters. She attended Saint Ann’s grammar school and was a graduate of Saint Ann’s High School. She married her husband of 72 years, Lawrence Retelle on June 6, 1952, and settled in Lawrence raising her nine children.
She enjoyed being with her family and entertaining by cooking delicious homemade dinners for all occasions, cooking pancakes on Saturday morning was a family favorite for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Dee was the true matriarch of her family. She loved her family fiercely and would be there for them whenever needed.
When all nine children were in school, Dee started her own working career at 35 at the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home, where she eventually moved into a supervisor position. At 45 years old, Dee, looking for a new challenge, attended and graduated from the medical secretary program at Essex Aggie. She took a lot of pride in being recognized as the “best student of her class.” She started her medical career working for Doctor Ramsdell in Andover. When he retired, she continued her career at Northeast Dermatology before retiring at 80 years old. She really enjoyed the connection with people that her work provided and the independence that came with it.
Dee began traveling when she went camping with her husband Larry and their nine children, in the mountains of New Hampshire in the 1960s. Eventually the grandchildren joined the journey, so they had to upgrade to trailers and longer trips.
Subsequently, Dee and Larry traveled across the country on some adventurist road trips and eventually around the world. These trips included Japan, China, Germany, Scotland, Iceland, Italy, and Panama (she always wanted to see the canal).
Dee had a dry, wry sense of humor. She could make you laugh in subtle and smart ways. She loved interacting with people and could relate to all demographics. Dee was a proud, strong, resilient woman of her time. A deep hole has been left that will be impossible to fill. Thankfully the relationships and experiences we have all shared with her will keep her with us forever.
Dee was the beloved wife of Lawrence Retelle. She was the loving mother of Patrice Kobrenski and her husband, John of Methuen, Daniel Retelle of Methuen, Alan Retelle of Londonderry, NH, Audrey Retelle and her husband, Nick of Haverhill, Ellen Retelle and her partner, Judith of Avon, CT, Denise Retelle and her partner, Brian Crosby of Seabrook, NH, Larry Retelle and his wife, Tricia of Seabrook, NH., Justine Coperine and her husband, Thomas of Haverhill, and Joanne Dumais and her husband, Gerry of Dracut. She was the cherished grandmother of, Patrick, Jeffrey, Elizabeth, Alan, Jr., Matthew, Olivia, Kristina, Adrienne, Nicole, Andrew, and the late Anthony and was the great-grandmother of 9. Sisters, Marcelline Dube of Lawrence, MA, and Marcelle Goulet and her husband, Jean of Lawrence, MA, brother, Lionel Levesque and his wife, Donna of Salem, NH. Dee was predeceased by her sisters, Claire Tucker and Pauline Salinas, and her brother, Bernand Levesque.
We love you Dolores “Dee.”
The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home are honored to serve the Retelle Family during their time of need.
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