LEAH MARGUERITE HEBERT MACDONALD

AUGUSTA -- Leah Marguerite Hebert MacDonald, of Augusta and East Boothbay, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2013, with two of her five children and one of her granddaughters at her side.

Born in Portland on May 10, 1937, to Richard Abrahm and Etta Mae (Bagley) Hebert, Leah enjoyed a wonderful childhood growing up on Peaks Island. A graduate of Cathedral High School in 1955, she attended New England Business College in Portland and started her working career at Union Mutual Life Insurance, then continued on to positions at New England Tel & Tel and working for the state of Maine.

Leah moved to Fayette with her family in 1957, where she met and married John G. MacDonald, of Augusta. Together, they made their home in Augusta for more than 50 years, where they worked and raised their five children. In 1980, Leah went to work for the state of Maine Department of Labor as an administrative assistant to the commissioner(s) of Labor through four administrations. Leah was highly respected and appreciated for her knowledge of the department.

Raised on Peaks Island, she held the ocean near and dear to her. She had a profound love for the beauty of the coast of Maine, for the tides, and in particular for a good ocean storm. A member of the Boothbay Shores Association, she summered at her cottage in East Boothbay for the past 50 years. She loved to entertain and would often say, "The more, the merrier." Friends and family have many wonderful memories of holidays, especially Thanksgiving, spent with Leah, and also of times just sitting on the deck with her, enjoying a lobster bake and watching the tide together. Passionate about both music and dancing, Leah took great pleasure in attending many musicals and theatrical performances with her friends. She was an avid reader and instilled a love of reading in all her children and greatly enjoyed history, trivia, and the occasional political debate.

A devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Andrew's Parish, Leah was grateful for her many blessings, particularly for her family, her strong, vibrant circle of close friends, and for her cottage in East Boothbay, where she enjoyed what she described as "the most beautiful view in the world."

Leah was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Mildred Strout; and her husband, John MacDonald. She is survived by her five children, sons Stephen MacDonald, of Chelsea, Thomas MacDonald, of Eatonton, Ga., and James MacDonald and wife Caroline, of Scarborough, and daughters Ellen Fuller and husband Gary, of Belgrade, and Kathleen Iannicelli and husband Alex, of Andover, Mass. Leah is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Melissa Fuller, Amanda Lovejoy, Andrew Fuller, Caitlin MacDonald, Connor MacDonald, Lily MacDonald, Rowan MacDonald, William MacDonald, Ethan Iannicelli and Lucas Iannicelli; and two great grandchildren, Clarice Fuller and Paxton Lovejoy. Also surviving her are two sisters, Eleanor Golden and husband Paul, and Constance Arness and husband John; many nieces and nephews, two cousins, and her sisters-in-law, Martha Anderson and Sylvia Ragon. There will be no public visiting hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, June 17, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Western Avenue, Augusta. Burial will be in Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Augusta at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to either The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital Development Office, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102; or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Leah's family wishes to thank the many friends, family members and caregivers for the help, the love and the support given over the past few years, as she faced formidable challenges with an incredible will, bravery and determination.

Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.