J.P. Fontaine

J.P. Fontaine, 75
BIDDEFORD - J.P. Fontaine, 75, of Biddeford, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at The Landing at Saco Bay, formerly the Monarch.
He was born in Biddeford on Aug. 28, 1942, the son of the late Ernest and Germaine (Landry) Fontaine. He attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and in 1961 graduated from St. Louis High School. He joined the Navy soon after graduation and served on the USS Lenawee Troop Transport, transporting servicemen to Vietnam.
Following his discharge, he served in the Naval Reserves for 10 years, then another 10 years in the National Guard Army Reserve, 133rd Engineering Division, retiring in 1986 with a total of 25 years of service.
In 2004, he retired from General Dynamics in Saco, formerly known as Maremont, after 38 years of employment. He was a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Parish.
J.P. was a dedicated volunteer for the Saco Meals Program, feeding the hungry. He was also dedicated to the East Biddeford Little League, as well as serving as manager of the B.S.B. (Biddeford Savings Bank) team. He followed his son's youth sports, playing a role as official scorekeeper and umpiring both the Little and Senior Leagues. He enjoyed bowling in multiple men's leagues at both 20th Century and Vacationland Bowling.
He also enjoyed trolling on the Saco River with his kid brother, Marc, and in his younger years he liked to go deer hunting.
J.P. was a dedicated family man who not only loved participating in his children's sporting events, but also took great pride in not missing and making sure to attend all of their concerts, recitals and plays. He loved being Pépère and took pride rocking those babies to sleep.
J.P. was predeceased by his furry friends, Buffy, Mica, Angel and Miss Kitty.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jackie (Roy) Fontaine, of Biddeford; children, Cheryl Beaupre and her husband, Steve; Cathleen Kiley; and Shawn Fontaine and his wife, Alison; nine grandchildren, Katrina, Minh, Bailey, Michael, Abby, Megan, Drew, Nathan, and Matthew; one great-granddaughter, Cai; siblings, Richard Fontaine and his wife, Paulette; Dianne Baker; and Marc Fontaine and his significant other, Suzanne Lemay; his sister-in-law, Janet Champagne, who spent hours weekly with Jackie exercising and helping to care for J.P. for the past 25 months at the Monarch; along several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Monarch for the compassionate and loving care given to J.P. and his family these past 25 months, as well as the staff of Beacon Hospice for the past 12 months.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Saco, 271 Main St. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will take place that afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Stanley Road, in Springvale. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. Condolences may be expressed at: www.blackfuneralhomes.com.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in his memory to the
St. Louis Alumni Associates
649 Elm Street
Biddeford, ME 04005, or
Saco Meals Program Soup Kitchen
P.O. Box 513
Saco, ME 04072, or
Alzheimer's Association
383 U.S. Route 1, #2C
Scarborough, ME 04074