Clement R. Normand

Clement Renald Normand "Clem", 63, of Springvale, died at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston on Tuesday, July 31, 2007. He was born in Sanford on February 8, 1944, a son of Louis Paul and Germaine L. Gagne Normand. He had been transported from H.D. Goodall Hospital in Sanford by helicopter to Brigham & Women's on June 2nd and received a heart transplant on July 2nd. He was making progress day by day, but various unexpected medical situations caused complications and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Despite exhaustive efforts by skilled doctors and dedicated nurses, Clem lost his courageous fight for life.He attended St. Ignatius School in Sanford and joined the Navy the day after he turned 17. He earned his GED while in the service. He later earned his Associates Degree in Business from USM. He served his country in the United States Navy from February 1961 to September 1970. He served aboard the USS Roosevelt during the Vietnam War and the USS Oakridge in Rota, Spain.He married Donna Valentino, his pen pal from the Vietnam days, at St. Brendan's Church in the Bronx, NY, on November 28, 1970. They lived in the Bronx from 1970 until 1974. He always enjoyed working with figures and was good at it. He worked as bank teller at First National City Bank in Manhattan. When they moved to Springvale in 1974, he worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard until 1993. When he retired from the shipyard he was a Budget Analyst. He then worked as a salesman at Central Furniture in Sanford. He started working for Roland Couture, the owner at the time, a man he came to admire and look up to as a father figure. Clem worked there for seven years leaving in April of 2005 due to declining health.He was a member of the Sanford American Legion Post and the VFW. His interests included fishing, hunting, camping, and woodworking, puzzle making and gardening. Clem was an outstanding husband and father, giving generously of his time, energy and resources. He was always happy and more than willing to help in any way he could. He loved all of his sisters and brothers and felt especially close to his mother and was always concerned about her. A quiet man, he may not have talked about it, but he believed that it was God who was keeping him going. He believed in the "Everlasting arms" of God and took great comfort and strength from the serenity prayer. A fair, decent man of unquestionably high standards, he certainly lived up to his name, "Clement"-merciful, mild-mannered and gentle. An easygoing, friendly man, he was well liked by many and he in turn liked and enjoyed them. He will truly be missed by family, relatives, friends and acquaintances. "Via con dios, Clem".He was predeceased by his father, Louis P. Normand who passed away in 1993. He is survived by his wife, Donna (Valentino) Normand of Springvale, one daughter, Suzanne Monique Normand of Sanford, his mother, Germaine L. Normand of Springvale, brother, Donald M. Normand of Lebanon, sister, Jacqueline (Normand) Vallee of Springvale, brother, Paul R. Normand of Sanford, sister, Celeste (Normand) Mountfort of Langdon, NH, several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.Visiting hours will be on Sunday August 5th from 4 to 8pm at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale, where a funeral service will be held on Monday at 10am. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford.In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association 51 US RT 1, Suite M, Scarborough, Maine 04074.To leave the family a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.