Dawn Y. Bourque

NORTHBOROUGH
Dawn Y. (Lewis) Bourque, a longtime resident of Northborough, passed away peacefully at home on January 10, 2026. She was 89 years old. Born and raised in Bridgewater, Maine, Dawn was one of 5 children born to Gordon Lewis of Bridgewater, Maine and Vada (Dyer) Lewis of Armond, New Brunswick, Canada.
Before moving to Waltham when she was a teenager, she enjoyed all the wonders of life in Northern Maine. As a young girl, Dawn and her siblings spent their days sledding and ice skating in the winter (when there weren't chores to do) and in the fall, all the schools would take a "Harvest Break" for two or three weeks so the students could be used for manual labor to help with picking potatoes - the major crop of "Maine's Potato Empire." She often reminisced about missing the simple life in Aroostook County. To say it was a culture shock when the family moved to Waltham, MA in the 1950's when she was a teenager is an understatement. However, she eventually embraced the city life and that is where she met her beloved husband of 64 years, Gerard Bourque, at the Waltham Library. Dawn went to Sheppard-Gill School of Practical Nursing on Newbury Street in Boston and did her training at Mass General Hospital.
Dawn and Gerard moved to Northborough, MA in 1962 where they raised their four children. She continued her nursing at Marlborough Hospital and then transitioned to being a visiting nurse for the elderly. Dawn loved helping others and was always so kind to everyone she met. There wasn't a day that went by without her telling her children how proud she was of them. She adored spending time with her many grand and great grandchildren, enjoyed interior decorating, and also loved DIY projects as she lovingly and patiently restored a house in York Beach, Maine with her husband Gerard.
Surviving Dawn are her four children; Robert C. Bourque and his wife Kathy of Northborough; David P. Bourque and his wife Linda York of Little Elm, TX; Wendy L. (Bourque) Kettenstock and her husband Frank of Danville, CA; and Glenda Bourque of Berlin, MA as well as 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Dawn also leaves behind her sister Wanda of Connecticut and was preceded in death by her brother Halston Lewis, and sisters Judy Lavash and Glenda Auciello.
Calling Hours will be held Monday, January 19th from 4-6pm at Hays Funeral Home at 56 Main Street in Northborough. Dawn's funeral will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 20th at 10:00am. Burial will follow in Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Northborough Food Pantry, 37 Pierce St, Northborough, MA 01532 (www.nfpantry.org).