Leigh Meredith Albert

PRESQUE ISLE - With heavy hearts, we announce the unexpected passing of Leigh Meredith Albert (Hayward) on April 8, 2025, following a long battle with addiction. Leigh was 51 years old.
Born on February 22, 1974, in Presque Isle, Maine, Leigh was the beloved daughter of Marie and Lewis Wilcox of Presque Isle and Keith and Camilia Hayward of Presque Isle. She was a proud graduate of Presque Isle High School, Class of 1993. Leigh found great joy in her work at Cavendish, where she provided for her family while raising Mikayla and Rylee.
Leigh will be remembered for her exceptional cooking skills, her warm heart, and her deep love for people. She had a gift for welcoming everyone, and her kitchen was often the heart of every gathering. Leigh was also an avid lover of country music and found happiness in the simple joys of life.
Leigh was a devoted mother to her two children, Mikayla Deschaine, with her husband Peter Deschaine and their sons, Noah and Parker Deschaine, of Presque Isle, and Rylee Albert of Blaine. Her role as a mother brought her immense pride and joy.
She is survived by her siblings: Mark Hayward and his lifelong partner Kim Oldenburgh of Whitefield; Christopher Hayward and his wife Jennifer Hayward of Scarborough; Keary (Jay) Hayward of Lyman; Billie-Jean Porter and her husband Matthew Porter of Mapleton; and Amy Stevens and her husband Michael Stevens of Washburn, and Trent Tompkins of Hope, Rhode Island. Leigh will be deeply missed by her many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, all of whom held a special place in her heart. Leigh was loved deeply by her best friends Lynette Elliott, Christine Soucy, Anissa Levesque, and many others.
Leigh was predeceased by her paternal grandparents, Nellie and William Hayward, and her maternal grandparents, Kathleen and Lloyd Howland, whose memory she cherished dearly.
A graveside service will be held at a later at Southside Cemetery, Mapleton, ME, with Gregory Moody officiating. A celebration of Leigh's life will be held later, where family and friends will gather to share memories and honor the vibrant spirit she brought to their lives. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bowers Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.bowersfuneral.com