FORT KENT - Leona Dufour Lebel, 101 years young, beloved wife, mother, grandmother (memere), great grandmother, aunt (tante) and friend to many, passed away in Frenchville on Sunday, August 27, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Rivière-Verte, NB, Canada, on April 1, 1922, as the eighth of eighteen children to Thomas and Anna (Vaillancourt) Dufour.

Leona married Lionel Lebel in 1949. Together they raised a beautiful family and enjoyed 48 wonderful years of marriage. She was a gifted knitter and excellent card player and enjoyed playing Charlemagne and Rummy with friends and relatives. Each year she canned fresh veggies from the family garden and was well known for her yearly yard sales on St. John Road.  Never one to give up, Leona learned to drive at the age of 55 and the roads were never safe again.

Leona was a parishioner of St. Louis Catholic Church in Fort Kent and completed her Cursillo in 1986.  She was also voted Ladies of St. Anne's 2005 Mother of the Year.

She is survived by her children Leonie (Bill) Plourde of Las Vegas, NV, Lester (Cynthia) Lebel of Saco, ME, Lewellyn Lebel of Stroudsburg, PA, Lorraine (Clyde) Dubois of New Canada, ME and Larry (Molly) Lebel of Winterport; a sister Valeda Dube of Florida; a brother, Patrick Dufour of California; and ma grandchildren; great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Leona was predeceased by her beloved husband Lionel, a son, Lloyd, and a wonderful daughter-in-law, Susan Lebel. Leona was also predeceased by her parents and siblings Frank, Leonard, Lena, Alphee, Clara, Romeo, Noella, Claudia, Adrien, Anita, Clarence, Roland, Cyril, William, and Rina.

Most recently a resident at St. Joseph Memory Care in Frenchville, Leona's family wishes to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff for giving her excellent loving care and attention for the last year.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at St. Louis Church in Fort Kent. Relatives and friends may greet the family   Thursday morning 8:30 – 9:30AM at Lajoie-Daigle Funeral Home, 14 E. Main St., Fort Kent. Interment will be held in the St. Louis Cemetery following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leona's memory to St. Joseph Memory Care Activity and Memorial Fund, 426 US Route 1, Frenchville, ME 04745 or Northern Light Home Care & Hospice.