Rolande M. Allard

Beloved and lovingAt 105 years we had half-believed that she would live forever. We are heavy-hearted to be without her loving and positive energy.Rolande Marie Pepin was born on a farm in St. Norbert, Quebec on July 25, 1915. At the age of 7, she moved with her family to Sanford, Maine, where she remained until age 95, when she moved to Merrimack, New Hampshire to live with her daughter Lorette. She passed away at her daughters residence on August, 24, 2020.In Sanford, she enjoyed a childhood surrounded by a large family, left school in the Great Depression to work in a shoe factory, met and married Alpheri "Fred" Allard, and raised their twin daughters Lorette and Lorraine. Later, she returned to factory work, which in her usual positive way she described to her grandchildren as being fun, because she and her friends could hang out and talk all day. She also assisted with Fred's thriving taxi business. Holidays were often spent at Wells and Ogunquit beaches and in Canada visiting family. She lived on a street full of her relatives for most of her life, and when needed, she and Fred shared their home with extended family. Always welcoming, she took pride in keeping a pristine home - not always easy with a husband who was a part-time mechanic and prone to bringing home dusty though appealing antiques. She lost Fred in 1981. A few days before her death, she saw a photo of them at their 40th wedding anniversary which made her laugh with joy. Rolande was always quick to smile and laugh. Fluent both in her native French and English, Rolande spoke a typically French Canadian/New England rapid mix of both with family and friends. She took pleasure in amusing us as she interspersed her favorite phrases from childhood into conversation. "How now brown cow" meant a low-key version of "would you look at that!" But it was also a reminder of the cows her mother used to milk in the morning - including the day Rolande and her twin brother Roland were born at 9am. She loved the companionship of card games. "No soap" meant a bad draw in the game, and also could be traced back to memories of a childhood with far more people than the 5 rocking chairs on the porch (though apparently ample amounts of pie). She and her twin were the youngest of 15 children - not counting the 5 from her father's first marriage. A devout Catholic, she found great solace in prayer during the ups and downs of the decades. Rolande was sorry to be the last of her generation but was invigorated by her time with younger family members. She is survived by her daughter Lorette, her niece Nancy, her five granddaughters, nine great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. She was our warm, caring matriarch and we miss her dearly.A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 5th at 10AM at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish-Holy Family Church in Sanford, ME, followed by burial at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. Thomas School in Sanford, ME.Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com