Lillian (Proteau) Bellemare

Loving Mother, Memere, Grand Memere and Great Grand Memere

After spending the day with family and friends, Lillian passed away peacefully on the evening of September 2, 2023 in her apartment at The Residence at Freeman Lake in North Chelmsford. Widow of the late Marcel ”Mike” Bellemare, who died May 1, 2011, Lillian and Marcel were blessed with sixty-five years of marriage and six children. Lillian was born on November 25, 1925 in Lowell, the daughter of the late Joseph and Louise (Champoux) Proteau. Lillian was the last of eight in the Proteau family.

Lillian was a great mother and role model to her children, grandchildren and her entire family. At 97 years old, Lillian lived a wonderful life. She was filled with boundless energy and an infectious positive attitude. Anyone who ever had the opportunity to meet her could see it in a minute. She was a joy to be around and her happiest moments were spending time with the love of her life Mike, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her values were rooted in family and faith and she instilled those values in her children.

After completing 8th grade at the age of 14, Lillian started work at the Mills of Lowell Symphonic in order to contribute to the family income, which was customary for anyone growing up in “Little Canada” in Lowell in the late 1930’s. Additional employment included stints with Abbott Worsted and J.P. Stevens of Dracut. In her later years after her kids were all grown, Lillian worked at Alexander’s Market, a 5 minute walk from her home in Dracut.

Lillian loved traveling, especially to West Palm Beach, FL and Savannah, GA with her husband Mike. She was always active and enjoyed cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, walking and golf. And there was nothing more enjoyable than dressing up and going out dancing with Mike. If there was a dance floor anywhere in site, you can be sure Lillian and Mike were dancing up a storm. They were charter members of the Saturday night dance club at the Lo Kai restaurant in Dracut.

Lillian and Mike were members of St. Michael’s Parish, Lowell. Prior to that, they were parishioners at St. Louis Church, Lowell, for 24 years, where they were active in the Prayer Group and the Poor Clare Nuns Society.

Lillian is survived by her two daughters, Carol Ledoux and her late husband Louis of Hudson, NH and Diane Paige and her husband Nicholas of Nashua, NH; her three sons, Victor Bellemare and partner Kathy McDougall of Saco, ME, Donald Bellemare and his late wife Linda of Tewksbury and Kenneth Bellemare of Dracut; her ten grandchildren, Jamie Ledoux and his wife Kim of Billerica, Ryan Ledoux and his wife Cindy of Lincoln, RI, Jonathan Bellemare and his wife Kaitlyn of Northport, ME, Jessica Bellemare and her husband Ryan Fraser of Dracut, Kristen and her husband Francisco Aguilar of Barre, Corey Bellemare and his partner Kristen Kilanski of Derry, NH, Dylan Bellemare of Saco, ME, Alexis Paige and her husband Keith Shelton of Tunbridge, VT, Joshua Paige of Franklin, TN and Vicki and her husband Wayne Freitag of Tewksbury; her ten great-grandchildren, Teagan, Sophie, Kylie and Griffin Ledoux, Elliana and Peyton Aguilar, Bowden and Charleigh Bellemare and Ashley Freitag and her partner Chris Taylor and Eric Freitag and his fiancée Anna Reid; her one great-great grandchild, Brayden Freitag; as well as nieces and nephews and her special life long friend, the late Angie Cote.

Lillian was predeceased by her baby daughter, Elaine; brother, Arthur Proteau and her six sisters, Lydia Barthel, Bernadette Fissette, Lena Baillargeon, Annette Feeney, Loretta Morin and Lorraine LaFortune.

Relatives and friends are invited to Lillian’s Life Celebration on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 5 until 8 PM at the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, Lowell. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 10 AM in St. Michael Church, Lowell. Burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford.