BASTARACHE, MARIE PAULE (NOWLAN) - Marie Paule (Nowlan) Bastarache, 64, of Gardner, died peacefully Saturday morning October 12, 2013 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Marie was born in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of the late Antoine and Eva (Arsenault) Nowlan and has lived in Gardner for many years. She married her beloved husband Joseph "Ronald" Bastarache on August 10, 1968 and together they have shared over 45 years of marriage. Marie is a long time member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parrish. She dedicated her life to taking care of her children and her husband. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren. For the last 11 years, Marie would summer in New Brunswick so she could spend two months each year with her sisters. She will be remembered as a kind, loving woman, who always put others before herself. Besides her husband Ronald, Marie will be sadly missed by her two sons; Michael Bastarache and his wife Dee of Gardner and Duane Bastarache and his wife Lisa of Ashburnham, two brothers; Bernie Nowlan and his wife Bernadette of Gardner and Gerald Nowlan of Grande Digue, NB, five sisters; Mildred Fontaine and her husband Donald of Cocagne, NB, Therese LeBlanc and her husband Jerry of Moncton, NB, Doris Legere and her husband Ronald of Grande Digue, NB, Jeannette Cassie and her husband Clorice of Gardner, and Andrea Nowlan of Moncton, NB, two grand-daughters; Haley and Katelyne, two step-grandchildren, Eric and Jamie, and many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are planning to honor and celebrate Marie's life by gathering for a memorial Mass in Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols St. Gardner, MA on Friday, October 18, 2013 beginning at 11AM. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Should friends desire, donations in Marie's memory may be made to the Gardner Visiting Nurses Association Hospice, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440. To sign the online guestbook for Marie, please visit our website at www.fletchercares.com. The Lamoureux Fletcher and Smith Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, is honored to be assisting the family with the arrangements.