Edward R. Deschenes

Edward R. Deschenes, 92, of Sanford, died on Decembeber 24, 2016 at River Ridge in Kennebunk. Ed was born on January 7, 1924 to Jules and Desneiges (Fontaine) Deschenes in Sanford where he grew up and graduated from Sanford High in 1942. While in the U.S. Army, during World War II, he served in the South Pacific. Ed married Alva Godin in 1944 and they were married for 72 years at the time of his death. Together they raised four children. As a young boy he was a member of the Sanford Troubadours, a popular area musical group who performed for eight years throughout York County at dances and numerous area functions, as well as on the radio. Ed played the fiddle which he began playing at nine years of age. In his early adult years, after watching an Armistice Day parade, Ed and his brother Leo, suggested the revival of the original Campbell Drum and Bugle Corps. They succeeded in interesting the American Legion in sponsoring this and recruiting many family and friends into joining the group. Ed played the drums in this group. In his later years, Ed was a member of the Maine French Fiddlers. With this group, he performed at both Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. Ed won many fiddling contests in Maine, Vermont and Canada during his musical career making him an accomplished musician all his life. During his working life he worked in various shoe shops, Eastern Plastics and retired from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1986. After his retirement Alva and Ed wintered in Lake Havasu City, AZ and finally lived there year round for 10 years, returning to Sanford in 2005. He was a communicant of St. Therse of Lisieux Parish. Ed was a life member of the VFW, the American Legion, and the Amvets.Ed was known for his ready smile and loved a good joke. He loved people, especially his wife Alva and his children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, a son David Deschenes, brothers, Leo, Paul and Charlie, Deschenes, and sisters Marceline Wagner and Christine Proventure.Survivors include his wife, Alva, daughters, Geradine (Gerry) Alexander and husband Sherman, and Carol Lee Cote, a son Dennis Deschenes and wife Marjorie, daughter in law Pauline Deschenes, sister Caroline Ghasten, of Lansing, MI, grandchildren, Brian and Natalie Alexander of Sanford, Edward and Amy Alexander of Honolulu, HI, Steve and Kerrie Alexander, of Orange Park, FL., Amy and Steve Tremblay of Powell, OH, Nicholette Hamel, Kathy and Dan Giguere, of Sanford, Jill and Scott Zimmerman, of Reisterstown, MD, Tina Thompson, of Auburn, ME, April Stubbing, Ryan Randles, of Buffalo, NY, Carol Lee Johnstone, of Sanford, many great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 24, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Theres of Liseux Parish, Holy Family Church on North Ave. in Sanford followed by a burial at St. Ignatius Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence please click tab at left.