Verna DeCourcey
1934- 2019
Verna Marie DeCourcey peacefully left this earth in the early morning hours of April 5th, 2019 in Arizona. She was in her home with family and her beloved dog, Bodee by her side. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom, an aunt, a grandma, a friend, a nurse, a golfer and so much more to so many.
She was born Marie Verna Gracia St. Jean on February 20, 1934 in Grand Isle, Maine, daughter of Elphege and Rose (Parent) St. Jean. The second born of six children, Verna was the oldest sister to her four younger sisters. She grew up on a potato farm and only spoke French until she was 6 years old. She attended a one room schoolhouse in Grand Isle for about a year. Around age 7 and During WWII, her father Elphege took work in the South Portland Shipyards building U.S. Liberty Ships so the family relocated to South Portland, Maine where Verna lived the majority of her life. She was an astute student and skipped the 1st grade. She attended Holy Cross school through eighth grade and went on to graduate from South Portland High. She was a very good basketball player and also competed in archery.
At a very young age, Verna’s mother became ill which required Verna to take up the role of caring for her younger sisters and she did so with great love and care – something all of her siblings revere and appreciate about her to this day.
After high school she worked at Cape Shore paper company as an office administrator. From there she went to work for Art Smith Realty for a little over a year where she said she did not like being an agent as she could always find too many reasons why someone shouldn’t purchase a home! She then went on to SMVTI (currently Southern Maine Community College) studying nursing and earned her LPN degree. She then worked at Mercy Hospital as a nurse from 1976 through her retirement in the 90’s.
She married Joseph DeCourcey in June of 1960 and had 6 sons. Despite her extremely busy class and work schedule, she still managed to attend her sons’ sporting events and make their care and wellbeing a priority. She was also known to never let her sons down when they would awaken her in the middle of the night asking if she could type their term papers – she didn’t resist or complain, she just got up and did it. When asked what she was most proud of she would say her family.
She loved to golf and achieved a hole in one! She liked to travel and spent her later years taking trips with her sons all over the US and Europe, visiting her sister and friends in North Carolina, taking a cruise through the Panama Canal, and visiting her family and friends in New Mexico and Arizona. She loved music; she was able to see Glenn Campbell in Portland and recently enjoyed an Andre Boccelli concert in Arizona and a Mumford & Sons concert in Taos, New Mexico. She loved to laugh, bowl, play bridge, cribbage, Mexican Train, watch sports & movies and always said she wanted to be wherever the ‘action was’.
She had an affinity for children, especially her grandchildren. She took great pride in being a grandmother and her grandkids sparked a light in her eyes and in her spirit.
She was very stoic, strong and practical. She was a devout Catholic and volunteered at St. Patrick’s Church for many years.
She fought a long, arduous battle with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimers for over 12 years and put up a fierce fight. She embodied strength and grace in her battle – she fascinated and intrigued all who were fortunate to be in her company, including her doctors and nurses who constantly commented on her resilience and strength, both mentally and physically.
Because of her, many lives were enriched with amazing kids, grandkids, friends, caregivers and people whom her family never would have known otherwise. Friends and caregivers who will remain in her family’s lives forever.
She is predeceased by her parents, Elphege and Rose St. Jean; sister, MaryJane Vosmous, brother Rosaire St. Jean, brother-in-law Phil Murphy and ex-husband, Joseph DeCourcey.
She is survived by her sister Imelda Clancy and her husband Jack Clancy of Maine; her sister Geneva Lane and her husband Dick Lane of North Carolina; her sister Lucy Murphy of Maine; Son Richard DeCourcey, ex-wife Heidi DeCourcey and granddaughter Hannah of Maine; James DeCourcey, wife Heather and grandson Ryan of Maine; Son John DeCourcey and wife Lila Simpson of Arizona; Son Michael DeCourcey, wife Ericka, granddaughter Taylor, and grandsons Deklan and Christian of New Mexico; Son Joseph DeCourcey, wife Serena Angela DiLorenzo, and granddaughters Lucia and Sofia of Massachusetts; Son Patrick DeCourcey, ex-wife April Jones, grandsons Logan and Payton and granddaughters Sydney and Carley; and many nephews, nieces and cousins throughout the country.
Her family wishes to thank all of Verna’s many caregivers including Linda & Smoke Simpson, Bonnie, Lauren & Carolyn, Maria, nurse Donna, & driver Anthony; organizations like Banner Alzheimer’s Institute of Phoenix, Honor Health of Scottsdale, Foundation for Senior Living (FSL) of Tempe, Arizona; the Stewart Center of Cumberland, Maine, and the amazingly compassionate, kind and professional staff of Sage Hospice of Arizona who provided Verna with comfort and dignity for many months. And much gratitude to her family and friends who love and have cared for her. It has taken a village (and a small pharmacy) and Verna thrived because of that care and love!
As she always said, 'I want to be where the action is'.... she is now where all the best action is for eternity!
Please join us in her services at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 492 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103 on July 25, 2019 at 11:00am followed by her burial at Calvary Cemetery at 1461 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106.
Following her services there will be a Celebration of Life with snacks and refreshments July 25, 2019 from 1:30-5:30pm – please RSVP at the top of this page or call/text for more information 505-730-5452.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Foundations for Senior Living (FSL) of Tempe, Arizona c/o Carolyn Hutchens at 2234 E Maryland Dr, Tempe, Arizona 85281. Verna attended an adult day club there for over 2 years – Carolyn, Kathy, Donna, Anthony and the entire staff positively impacted Verna’s life and ours. All donations will help other families benefit as Verna’s did from the care and compassion that FSL provides.
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/FoundationforSeniorLiving/donationsmatter.html
Verna Marie DeCourcey
* Born February 20, 1934
* Sadly left this earth April 5th, 2019
* Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and so much more
* Services July 25, 2019 at 11:00 am at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 492 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103 followed by her burial at Calvary Cemetery at 1461 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106.
* Celebration of life July 25, 2019 from 1:30-5:30pm at the Italian Heritage Center at 40 Westland Ave, Portland, ME 04102– please click below to RSVP by July 18. 2019.
