Frances B. Sheltra

Frances Boivin Sheltra, 93, of Springvale was called home to God on Monday, February 5, 2023 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford. Frances was born on August 13, 1929 to Wilbrod and Gertrude (Sutton) Boivin in Sanford where she grew up and attended the local Catholic schools, graduating from St. Ignatius High School in 1947. In 1949 she married Donald Aime Sheltra and together they shared 65 years of marriage and raised five children before his death in 2014. Frances was a devout Catholic and had been a communicant of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish (Holy Family Church) where she served in various capacities throughout her life. In 1947, Frances joined the Daughters of Isabella where she served the local circle, Mater Circle #389, as Regent and in the following years went on to become State Regent and then served the organization as International Regent for four years. She also served on the International board for a total of 18 years. During her working life, Frances was employed at the Sears and Roebuck Office where she stayed until the birth of her first child. When she returned to the workforce she went to work for Saul Shalit before going on to work at the Dubois Insurance Agency, the Savings and Loan Association, York County Community College, Renaissance Greeting Card Company and finally part-time for Pare Oil Company until her retirement. Frances was predeceased by her daughter, Ann-Marie Sheltra Legere and her five brothers, Charles, Louis, Roland, Henry, and Donald. Surviving are two sons, Rene Sheltra and his wife Susan of Lewiston and Robert Sheltra of Burien, Washington; two daughters, Catherine Wadja and her husband Edward of Chicopee, Massachusetts and Ellen Sheltra of Island Pond, Vermont; two granddaughters, Renée Sheltra and Aja Santiniello; five grandsons, Adam Curtis, Zachary Sheltra, Troy Sheltra, Jared Sheltra and Elias Sheltra; seven beautiful great-grandchildren, Isaac Cushman, Annaliese Cushman, Madelyn Sheltra, Gia Santiniello, Sofia Santiniello, Chase Sheltra and Owen Sheltra; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Boivin and Alberta Bourque and two brothers-in-law Reginald Sheltra and Dennis (Arabis) Sheltra and numerous nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 10th at St Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church located on North Avenue in Sanford. Interment will follow at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery located on Stanley Road in Springvale. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.