Esther P. PORELL

ROCHESTER — Esther P. Levasseur, 89, a resident of Rochester, N.H., formerly of Sanford and Wells, Maine, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005, at the Rochester Manor after a brief illness.She was born in Sanford, Maine, on Nov. 3, 1916, a daughter of Frank and Margaret (Connely) Porell and attended at St. Joseph's Convent of South Berwick and graduated from Sanford High School, Class of 1934.She worked as a mender at the Goodall Mills of Sanford for more than 25 years.She married to Yvair B. Levasseur on Oct. 28, 1944.She worked with her husband as upholsterer and teaching night class in upholstery at the Sanford Adult education.She was a lifelong communicant of St. Ignatius Parish in Sanford until moving to Wells in 1975. Since then and until her illness in 2003, she was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church and active in the Sodality, Rosary and Widow's Group.At the Rochester Manor, she was a member of the Red Hat Society and Residents group.She enjoyed walking 10 miles per day, swimming and jazzercise.She was predeceased by her husband, Yvair B Levasseur, who died in 1991; and her brother, Lester Porell.She is surviving by her son, Thomas F. Levasseur and his wife, Jeanine F.; two grandsons, Ryan T., and Brenton M. Levasseur, all of Somersworth; and a cousin, Sheila Palmer of Sanford.Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Eldredge Road, Wells, Maine. Interment will be in Ocean View Cemetery, Wells, in the spring.The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her honor to the Rochester Manor Resident's Group, 40 Whitehall Road, Rochester, NH 03867-(1 603-332-7711).Arrangements by the Bibber Memorial Chapel- Wells. www.bibberfuneral.com