Muriel Georgette Bazinet

AUGUSTA -- Muriel Georgette Bazinet, 85, of Augusta and formerly of Lewiston, went gently from her home into that good slumber on Sunday, April 24, 2011. She was born on Oct. 12, 1925, in Lewiston, the fourth child of Arthur and Regina (Gagnon) Provost.

She attended Lewiston schools. She entered the workforce and waited patiently for the return of the love of her life, who was serving his country in the European theater. Upon his return to Lewiston, Bertrand and Muriel were married on Oct. 19, 1946. They became parents and rehabilitated the duplex that became their home in Lewiston.

Muriel worked for several years as a battery hand at the Edwards Division Mill of Bates Manufacturing Co. in Lewiston. After moving to Augusta in 1959, she became a sales lady in the china and glassware department at Herrick's on Water Street. She was also known for her fine sewing and upholstering skills. Many of her family and friends have pieces of furniture that she had re-upholstered with their help. But her children and grandchildren remember her best for cooking traditional French Canadian dishes, baked desserts and making heavenly pie crust from "scratch." Family was most important to her, and there were many family reunions in Boothbay Harbor. Some of her closest friends were the recipients of real Canadian maple syrup from her great-grandfather's homestead in Lambton, P.Q., Canada, where she had spent several summers as a child.

After putting their children through college, Muriel and Bert bought a summer cottage in Boothbay Harbor. Muriel loved spending the entire summer at this log cabin, tending her flower boxes and gardens. Muriel and Bert also enjoyed exploring small coves along the mid-coast and boating rendezvous with their many friends.

In recent years, she had developed a fondness for reading mysteries and other novels.

She is survived by two children, her daughter is Suzanne Bazinet of Augusta, and her son, Ronald Bazinet, of North Attleboro, Mass; her two granddaughters Danielle Bazinet Austin and her husband, Dennis, of Taunton, Mass., and Kristin Bazinet Laureano and her husband, Javier, of Methuen, Mass. She is also survived by one precious great-grandson, Bradyn Austin, of Taunton, Mass. Her brother, Guy Provost, and wife Louise of Lewiston; and two sisters, Theresa Long, of Chicago, Ill., and Jeannine Pelletier, of Silver Springs, Md., also survive her. She has many surviving nieces and nephews, including three goddaughters, Sylvia Turgeon of Lewiston, Mona Ervin of Auburn and Donna Sutton of Cumberland. Mrs. Bazinet was predeceased by her parents; two brothers, Roger of Lewiston, and Maurice of Beltsville, Md.; and three sisters Marcelle Levasseur, Lucille Saucier and Anita Philippon, all of Lewiston.

There will be no public visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, at St. Augustine Church, Augusta. Committal prayers will follow in the chapel at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to American Cancer Society, New England Division, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086-1240; or to a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. Condolences may be expressed at www.plummerfh.com.