Claire Hilda Guerrette

Brunswick, ME - Claire H. Guerrette, 99, of Lewiston, passed away at Midcoast Hospital on Sunday, December 22, 2024 with her family by her side. She was born Claire Hilda Huard, only child of Dominique and Hilda (Paradis) Huard. Family and friends will remember her as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother always ready to help those in need. She was also strong-willed, persistent, ambitious, and loyal.

Claire enjoyed life, dining out at new restaurants and old favorites, spending weekends at resorts on the Maine coast and in the White Mountains, and day trips to the ocean. She also loved entertaining and throwing parties for family and friends. She had a well-deserved reputation as a cook and hostess.

She leaves a loving family of which she was very proud. Her sons Dr. Dale Erskine and wife Marie Bongiovanni of Boone, NC; Dana Erskine and wife Linda Mack Erskine of Bath and their daughters, Jennalyn Burke and husband Joseph of Cumberland and Alaina Andreotti and husband Michael of Brunswick. She also leaves loving great- grandchildren: Camden and Caden Burke as well as Steven, Leah, and Evan Andreotti. She also leaves behind her longtime companion and friend, Joseph Paradis of Lewiston.

She was predeceased by both of her parents. Her first husband and father of her two sons, Albert Erskine, died in 1964. In June, 1970 she married Rosaire V. Guerrette who passed away in 2003. She was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish (Holy Cross).

Claire attended Auburn schools and was a 1943 graduate of Edward Little High School. She continued to meet annually for lunch with other alums from the class of 1943. During her senior year, she served as secretary to Principal Galen Veayo at Walton School. In 1967, she was the first female to run for Auburn City Council and ran second in a field with five male opponents.

Following graduation, she was employed for eight years by Central Maine Power as their first female cashier. She then moved into the steel warehouse business, first with Brown and Wales Steel in Auburn and then with Steel Service Center in Lewiston. As she gained experience, her responsibilities expanded, and she eventually was hired as buyer and inside sales department head at American Steel and Aluminum in South Portland. At that point, in 1970, she moved to Portland where she lived for 20 years. She was ahead of her time as a woman in a male-dominated field and was recognized for having earned the respect and esteem of clients and suppliers. She was highly capable, well-versed in the steel business, and was afforded authority matched by few women in the steel warehouse business.

In 1978, she was approached by Drummond-McCall Corporation of Montreal, a highly regarded chain of warehouses throughout Canada. The company was scouting areas in Maine for expansion into the US. She established a sales office in the basement of her home under the name DMC Metals. With her hard work, vision, and go-getter style, she was able to raise sales beyond corporate expectations. Largely under her direction, the local operation grew and, as a demonstration of their faith in her, shareholders invested in buildings and equipment. She finally retired in 1989 and returned to Lewiston, but she was not yet ready to sit still. She returned to the steel business and worked for Tri-State Steel in Auburn for several years on a part-time basis.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Sunday, December 29, 2024 from 3 - 5 pm at The Fortin & Pinette Group, 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, Lewiston, ME. A Mass of CHristian Burial will be celebrated Monday, December 30, 2024 at 11 am at Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn, ME. Burial will follow at St Peter Cemetery, Lewiston.

Please visit www.FortinPinetteGroupLewiston.com to sign Claire's guestbook and leave memories and condolences for the family.