Obituary: Roland J. Talbot

Roland J. Talbot

WINSLOW – Roland J. Talbot, 92, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2024, at Maine General Center for Health, with his daughter by his side.

He was born to the late Cyrille and Rose M. (Morency) Talbot on March 30, 1932 in Waterville at their home in Head of Falls. Roland attended St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Waterville. He would only finish the eighth grade, after which he went to work at a local market to support his family. He would go on to work for the First National supermarket on Main Street and then was promoted to store manager in Madison.

Roland joined the Navy in 1951 and served as a radio operator on the USS Willis A Lee. For two years he sailed around the Caribbean islands and to Europe, where he was able to go to Rome and see the Pope. As a French-Canadian Catholic from a small town in Maine, this was a dream come true.

Roland met the love of his life, Jean Dostie, on a blind date, and they were married in 1953 for a total of 54 years until her death in 2007. In 1972, he was promoted to Regional Director for Finaste/First National. Supermarket chain covering the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. At that time, he moved his small family, including daughters Lisa and Jill, to Rutland Vermont, where they lived until he retired from the grocery world. They spent their summers as a seasonal camper at Lake Dunmore’s Kampersville for many years, making friends and happy memories. In 1989 they returned to Maine, which has always been considered home. He had many friends and colleagues in Vermont whom he remembered fondly and still communicates with.

Roland was not a man to sit idly by after ‘retirement’. After a short stint at Kmart in Rutland, he went on to work as a custodian at Unity College, The Atrium Hotel and Berry’s Stationers, then at a local cardiologist’s office. When that doctor retired, it was inherited by the next practice, even going with them after they moved locations. He always said he would retire when he got old, but that wasn’t until he was 90. He eventually retired, most recently working at Waterville Women’s Care in Waterville, where he was always included in their holiday parties, along with his daughter Jill. as his date. He loved to treat his “girls” to bags of candy that he brought to the office each week. He was incredibly grateful for their love and generosity.

Roland, Dad, Papa, Uncle Rol and Sam, as he was known, was loved and charmed by all who knew him. Always quick with a smile or a joke, even if his body failed him in his final days. His sense of humor was still quite evident.

Roland was a member of Corpus Christi Parish, where he could be seen every Saturday at St. John’s in the same chair saying his prayers. He was a devout Catholic and received communion weekly.

He was predeceased by his wife Jean (Dostie), his brothers, Joseph Robert, Donald J (brother Roger Paul, FICP), Gerard J. and his wife Lucille (Viens) and Roger P. and by his sister Orita M. . , and her husband Reginald Couture

Roland is survived by his two daughters, Lisa Talbot of Winslow, Jill Huard and her husband Dan of Waterville; his nieces, Kathleen and Lisa, and a great-grandson, Jack Gilbert. Mimi’s love, a 9-year-old Doxi-Poo, will be terribly missed. Roland is also survived by his favorite sister, Mary Jane (Talbot) Paquet, sisters-in-law, Jean (Violette) Dostie and her husband Sal Amalfitano and Suzanne (Veilleux) Talbot, cousin, Doug Mathieu; along with several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 26 Monument St, Winslow, followed by committal at St. Francis Cemetery, 78 Grove St., Waterville.

Arrangements are in the care of Veilleux-Redington-Lawry Bros., 8 Elm Street, Waterville, where memories of Roland can be shared and an online registration book can be signed by visiting http://www.vrlfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Home of Maine, 93 Silver Street, Waterville ME 04901