Patricia Eileen Fredette

Patricia Eileen Fredette 83, of Pearl Street, Sanford ME, died on Saturday morning, December 16, 2023 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough ME. She was born April 2nd, 1940 in Nyack, NY to James and Anne (Moran) Vavasour. She grew up in Schenectady and graduated from St. Columba’s High School in 1958. She then married her high school sweetheart and husband of 63 years Tom Fredette in 1960. Tom and Pat started building a family right away welcoming their first of five children, Stephen John Fredette, in October 1960, and added four more children over the next decade with MaryPat Beatty born in 1963, Joseph Paul Fredette in 1964, Matthew Sean Fredette in 1965 and Noel Lynn Leigh in 1970. In 1985, after most children left the nest except for Noel, Pat and Tom moved to Salem, NH in support of Tom’s career and Pat soon after went to work for the IRS in Methuen, MA, where she worked for 10 years as a manager in files for the IRS. Pat loved being a homemaker and had a passion for cooking, gardening and entertaining family and friends for holiday gatherings, parties, and other special events, and especially loved decorating the house for the Christmas holiday season. Pat had a love for antiquing, a deep appreciation for the ocean, and enjoyed spending time in the Adirondacks. Her kind spirit also led her to volunteer for hospice in Derry, NH for a time. More recently she enjoyed taking drives and exploring the Maine back roads with her husband. Feisty, protective, and generous, her family described her as a great lady. Most of all, Pat was happiest when surrounded by those she loved. Patricia Fredette leaves behind a legacy of love, warmth, and resilience. She will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She is predeceased by her parents, a brother John Vavasour, a sister Therese Kane, a brother Stephen Vavasour, and a brother-in-law, Lt. Col. Edward Anibal. Survivors include her beloved husband Thomas J. Fredette of Sanford, her children, Stephen J. Fredette and his wife Christine of Dallas, TX, Mary Patricia Beatty and her husband John of Westford, MA, Joseph Paul Fredette and his wife Susan Gutwillig of Northborough, MA, Matthew Sean Fredette and his wife Yekaterina of Salem, NH, and Noel Lynn Leigh of Springvale, 12 grandchildren, Sean, Peter, Catherine, Christopher, Evan, Derek, Megan, Olivia, Kristen, Joshua, Madison and Tim, great grandchildren, Aspen and Leonie, sisters, Mary Anibal and Kathleen Keilman and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M., with a Memorial Service at 2:00 P.M. at Carll Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Dr., Scarborough, ME 04074 or online at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/gosnell-memorial-hospice-house.