Violet Doris St. Jean

Violet St. Jean (91), of Sanford passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, with family by her side on the morning of December 18th, in her home. Fiercely independent, and relentlessly committed to her family, her dream of “aging in place” was realized without intervention. Violet was born on November 1, 1931, in Sanford, to first generation Americans, Frederick Daigle and Marie Daigle (Brin). She was immensely proud of her parents unwavering work ethic and spent her life keeping their legacies alive through storytelling and reminiscing. Her mother nicknamed “Sunshine” was a beacon of hope in the Sanford Mills with her constant optimism and willingness to give to others, despite the challenges of her own life. Marie became the framework of who Violet would hope to be when she grew up. Her pride shined bright when she would tell the story of her surrogate brother, Ron Houle, of Ocean Park, and how her family welcomed him into theirs when he was a small child, despite not having the resources one would expect when taking on such a large role. Ron and Vi grew up together and remained close until her passing, often learning on each other for emotional support and keeping old memories alive. Violet met her husband Clifford (Cliff) St. Jean in Sanford and were married at age 19. They worked very hard, saved their money, and eventually built their own house, only splurging on gas money to take drives around York County. In 1955 their son, Ronald St Jean, was born and their passion for raising a child took center stage. Carrying on French traditions, and speaking fluent French, Vi and Cliff remained faithful companions until Cliff’s sudden passing in 2013. While trying to understand her new role as a widow, Vi spent the next 10 years acting as the matriarch of her family, coordinating gatherings and acting as the “glue” between family members near and far. She was known for never being satisfied with how long you visited, no matter the length of your stay, because in her eyes she knew time together was precious and she enjoyed the company. The golden age of Vi’s life was undoubtedly her years as a grandmother to Jason & Matthew and great-grandmother to Austin, Emma, Alex, Annie, and Ava. Her love for her grandchildren was unparalleled, and her enthusiasm for being a major part of their lives is what kept her young. Her swimming pool was the center of their universe and attracted family members all through the summer, often daily. Violet, who was lovingly referred to as “Aunt Vi” to her nephews: Zack and Josh, and friends outside of her immediate family was known for her generosity and selflessness. A proud member of the Holy Family Church, and a frequent donator to local food banks and homeless shelters helped her stay humble and have a positive impact in areas where she struggled at certain points in her life. She is survived by her brother: Ron Houle, her son: Ron St Jean, her grandchildren: Jason and Matt, their wives Erin and Courtney, and their children: Austin, Emma, Alex, Annie, Ava, and her nephews: Josh and Zack, their wives Heather, Katherine and their children Jack, Isabel, Azalea, Skye, Gabby, Elise. Her family will remember her always, as the impact she had was undeniable and an inspiration for future generations. A time of visitation will be held on Monday, January 2nd from 5pm-7pm at Black Funeral Homes, 580 Main St, Springvale ME 04083. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd, 11:00am, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish Holy Family Church, 66 North Ave, Sanford, ME 04073. Burial will be held at St. Ignatius Cemetery in the spring of 2023. A “Celebration of Life & Memorial Service” will be held on a future summer day, by her pool. Family and friends are invited to come and share fond memories and stories. The family encourages attendees to wear their favorite bathing suit. In lieu of flowers, the family has remained committed to “Camp Sunshine” in honor of Violets mother, Marie “Sunshine” Daigle, and asks for any donations to be sent on their behalf. Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Rd, Casco, ME 04015. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service. To leave a message of condolence click on Violet’s Remember Page.