Annette Cecile Rheaume

GARDNER - Annette Cecile Rheaume, 89, died after a brief illness on Thursday, August 14, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Francis Charles “Frannie” Rheaume with whom she shared 54 years of marriage.

Annette – affectionately known as Nana, Nanner Nanner, and Mamallama – was the youngest child born to Michel and Alvina (Belliveau) St. Pierre in Waltham, MA. She is predeceased by her siblings Paul, Lorraine, and Michael (Fr. Mike).

She was raised in Waltham and Cambridge, MA. Annette was a 1954 honors graduate of Notre-Dame de Pitie’ High School in Cambridge as well as receiving Certificates of Attainment in the Gregg Writer Shorthand and Typewriting courses. After graduation, her favorite jobs were working at The Coop in Harvard Square in Cambridge and Puritan Press in Waltham. She spent countless days making lifelong memories with her favorite nieces and nephews before being married on Valentine’s day in 1968.

After marrying Frannie, they moved to Saxonville, MA, to raise their family made up of two stepchildren, Raymond and Cynthia, and a daughter born to them after their marriage, Renee.

Annette and Frannie then began a new chapter in their life retiring to the Hubbardston/Gardner, MA area spending their days at the Hubbardston Senior Center, making friends and memories along the way. She loved yard sales, thrift shops, cats, a hot cup of tea, reading books, a long gab session with a friend or stranger, opera and classical music and her favorite song was “Hotel California” by the Eagles… go figure.

After Frannie’s passing, Annette lived at the Binnal Apartment House in Gardner where she enjoyed meeting new friends and acquaintances. She loved her little apartment and thrived independently there until her passing. Who knew that her lifelong passion for collecting would be ‘enhanced’ as the Binnall House had freebie tables galore – much to the chagrin of her daughters! Her favorite things to collect were angel items, which she was known to wear an angel pin every day. It made Annette happy to be able to find things to give to others which was her way of showing her love.

Annette was a member of Summit Elder Care in Leominster,MA. She loved to attend on Thursdays’ for the woman’s Chit Chat Club, making friends and sharing laughs. She talked endlessly about the soup that they served for lunch and how much she looked forward to it. She would carry her “Book of Names”, sharing people’s name, origin, and meaning.

Annette: Primarily a French female name, means “grace” or “favor”. It is a diminutive of Anne, derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, also meaning “grace” or “favor”. Therefore, Annette carries the connotations of elegance, kindness and divine blessing.

Annette spent countless hours with us, her daughters, including going out to lunch after doctors appointments, and hanging out watching TV while eating her favorite lime popsicles and telling us about her newly acquired “freebees”. We had a standing 6:00 pm appointment where we would remind her to take her evening pills and chat about the day's events. We have so many precious memories that will carry us forward until we meet again.

Annette leaves behind her children: daughter Renee and husband James Olson, daughter Cynthia and husband Brian Baker, and is predeceased by both son Raymond and daughter-in-law Celeste Rheaume. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Michelle and husband Sam, Kelly and husband Mark, James and wife Sydney, Sarah and husband Gage, and Christian. She is predeceased by grandson Jason. She also leaves beloved families of nieces and nephews, including family members Valerie and Joanne.

We would like to thank the nurses at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, MA, who cared so lovingly for Annette (and us) in her final days, and the wonderful and caring staff at Summit Eldercare in Leominster, MA. It means more than we can say. Thank you for all you do!

Annette – who collected angels – has now become one, and Frannie –who has been impatiently waiting for his bride – has finally gotten his long awaited ‘Cup of Tea!’

A Celebration of Life will be held on:

Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 1:00 pm

Val’s Restaurant

75 Reservoir St

Holden, MA 01520

Please RSVP “INVITATION LINK” to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Annette’s memory to the Hubbardston Senior Center.

Town of Hubbardston, COA

Attn: Claudia Provencal

48 Gardner Rd

Hubbardston, MA 01452

*Checks payable to : Town of Hubbardston, COA

The Hubbardston Council on Aging and the Senior Center exist to serve, support, and enhance the lives of all senior citizens in the community by providing social, educational, and health related programs and activities which support their well-being. They seek to create an environment that is socially and intellectually stimulating, promotes interconnectedness and unity among older residents and encourages them to pursue healthy, active, independent lives.