Janice M. Boutin

SANFORD--Janice M. Boutin (Libby), 88, of Sanford, Maine, died on March 2nd at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House surrounded by her loving family. Born in Sanford to Jessie and Fred Libby in 1934, Janice was a sweet and kind woman with a surprisingly fun and sassy side shown only to those who knew her best. Her life centered around her husband, children and her sweet cats. Throughout her adult life, she set an outstanding example for her children of what a wife and mother should be. Janice met the love of her life, John Boutin, at the age of 14. He swept her off her feet and after graduating from Sanford High School, she married him at the age of 18. And so, a remarkable 58-year love story was hatched. They lived in a small apartment on Cottage Street, just below her childhood home with her mother still close by. They later bought a house, bringing her mother Jessie with them, and created a loving home for her growing family who remained devoted to her until the very end. Janice worked as a finance clerk at Time Finance until her first child was born in 1956 and then became a homemaker for many years; running a busy home with 4 children, a niece at times, and her beloved mother, a valued addition to the family. Over the years, she worked part-time at Gene’s Bakery and Sanford High School. When her children were mostly grown, she took a full-time position at Tenneford Weaving Company as a weaver where she worked until retirement. Throughout her retirement, she traveled extensively with her husband to places across the United States, continental Europe and England. She loved seeing new places but was always happiest when she returned home to her children and grandchildren. She maintained a room in her home specifically for the grandchildren and encouraged sleepovers whenever possible. She is remembered by those who knew her as an amazing wife and mother who always went above and beyond for her husband, children and grandchildren. Holiday celebrations with the Libby cousins were always held in her small kitchen filled with plenty of food and lots of homemade treats. She made a remarkable (and irresistible) peanut butter fudge that was a much awaited gift for family and friends at Christmas. Snow days were an excuse to make homemade donuts with her children, a tradition that continues with the next generation. She loved a good game of cards with family and friends and often played with her niece Ruth and lifelong friends Rita and Mary up until the week before her death. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 58 years, John Boutin, in 2011. She is survived by and will be extremely missed by her children Carol DeCourt of Sanford, Donna Johnson and her husband Michael of Brentwood, NH, Sharon Rausch and her husband Karl of Bar Mills, Michael Boutin and his wife Natalie of Bowdoin and her niece Ruth Frazier of Lyman, many other nieces and nephews as well as 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Martha's Catholic Church in Kennebunk on Thursday March 9 at 11:00 am. A private burial will be held in the spring at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine or the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, Maine.