Helene Duval

Fort Kent--- Helene M. Duval, 98, peacefully entered into the eternal kingdom of Heaven and into the waiting arms of her late husband on August 21, 2024. She was born January 30, 1926, in Baker Lake, NB, Canada, a daughter of the late Adelard and Rosanna (Ouellette) Nadeau.
On July 23, 1946 she married the love of her life, Jean Paul Duval, and shortly thereafter settled in Fort Kent, ME, where they raised their six children together. Whether you knew her as Helene, Mrs. Duval, Mom or Memere, one thing was for certain - you instantly loved her! She had an infectious joie de vivre, a wonderful sense of humor, and was a miracle worker in the kitchen - rarely was there a formal recipe, but it was always delicious.
Alongside her husband, she spent 21 years managing Lonesome Pine Trails, where she manned the canteen and is fondly remembered for her fine cooking skills and always keeping an eye out for the littlest skiers. Upon retirement they enjoyed snowmobiling, fishing many of Northern Aroostook County's lakes for salmon and togue, and hunting for the elusive partridge in Allagash. She also played a mean game of Charlamagne and did not take lightly to cheaters!
In her younger years, Helene enjoyed picking all that nature's bounty had to offer, including dandelion greens, fiddleheads, seasonal berries and last but not least the Valley's prolific potatoes! Never one to shy away from hard work, on her best days she picked her goal of 100 barrels a day! One of those potato fields she picked in, owned by Harry Etscovitz at the time, is now the site of the wonderful Crosswinds Residential Care where she spent her last 5 years. During her time at Crosswinds she enjoyed taking leisurely strolls outdoors, soaking up the sun's bright rays in the South Wing and visiting with old friends, new friends, and the wonderful staff that cared so kindly and compassionately for her in her final days.
She was predeceased by her husband Jean Paul Duval, daughter Pauline Theriault, son-in-law Claude Plourde, her parents Adelard and Rosanna (Ouellette) Nadeau, six brothers and four sisters.
She leaves behind her daughter Patsy Plourde, son Robert Duval, daughter Susan Gardner and her husband Allan, son Philip Duval and wife Susan, son Ronald Duval and wife Michele, and son-in-law Franklin Theriault, 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Calling hours will take place on Thursday, August 29, 2024 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Lajoie-Daigle Funeral Home 14 E. Main St., Fort Kent, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Crosswinds Residential Care Activity Fund, or the Greater Fort Kent Ecumenical Food Pantry. To share condolences online, please visit www.LajoieFuneralHome.com