Antoinette D. (Turmelle) Duguay 

February 16, 1931 – August 15, 2026

Toni passed away at the age of 95 from dementia, surrounded by her family and their love. She was the 2nd child of Alphonse and Adele (Dube) Turmelle of Fairfield, Maine and was a proud Communicant of Immaculate Heart of Mary and Corpus Christi Parish.

A graduate of Lawrence High School, Class of ’48, Toni was working as a switchboard operator at the telephone company when a handsome young man, Albert Duguay, saw her walking home. He became the love of her life and her husband of 71 years. They married on October 28, 1950, and together raised six children in the house where she was born, next to her parents and sister, in a loving home where God was always present. She said her rosary daily and often said that everyone could use an extra prayer.

She retired from Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home in 1996 after 25 years of service.

Growing up, our family home was the hub for family and friends. There was lots of dancing, music, and board games—the days when life was simpler. Along with six kids came fights, shouting, and slamming doors, but it was always resolved, and there was love and laughter all around us. Mom and Daddy would joke that they made it 71 years of marriage because whoever left had to take the six kids!

Toni was involved in her community and church. She also had a habit of volunteering her girls to babysit neighborhood kids to help their parents or to collect for fundraisers. Our parents’ door was always open to kids who needed a safe and loving home. If you had the privilege of knowing her, she was Nanny. She was kind, loving, and a best friend. Mom and Dad were always there when you needed them. She was an avid reader, took only vitamins daily until her 90s, went to as many events as she could for her grands and greats, and loved being around people. A good cold beer was never turned down. She would often say, “What’s next on the agenda?” “I better get off my keister.” “What goes around comes around.” “Read, read, read… knowledge is power!”

Toni had a vibrant personality. In the ’60s, she had her hair dyed pink for a New Year’s Eve party. In 2026, she would laugh and say, “I started that movement.” Those were the days when all the girls had their hair coiffed, put on their best dress and heels, and went out. She definitely rocked it!

Toni lived on the homestead until the passing of Dad in 2022. Being a responsible woman, she knew she would have to sell, and after 85 years, she packed up her treasured love letters, wedding album, and other personal possessions and moved out of the “big town” of Fairfield to live with #5 and her son-in-law on the “nice and quiet” pond until her passing. It might have been a little too quiet for her liking!

Toni was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Albert; her brother, Robert Turmelle; her sister, Judith Turmelle; her great-grandson, Nathan; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law who were very close to her heart.

She is survived by her six children: #1 Vicki (Steven) Goodwin of Buxton, #2 Patricia (Gary) Dustin of Waterville, #3 Laurie (Jim) Byrne of Winslow, #4 Leslie DuVall of Winslow, #5 Melodie (Randy) Furbush of Oakland, and #6 Michael (Victoria) Duguay of Waterville.

She is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Barret (Bill) Fortier, Travis (Sara) Dustin, Brooke Dillon (Shane Savage), Cierra (Michael) McLaughlin, Taylor (Sarah) Byrne, Adam (Justine) DuVall, Lindsey DuVall, Katie Furbush, Chad (Kristina) Furbush, Kirt (Melissa) Furbush, Sage (Justin) Chartier, and Chase Duguay.

She is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren: Aiden, Sam, and Quinn Fortier; Riley, Joshua, and Rianne Dustin; Nealey and Baylee Dillon; Mac, Cam, and Noa McLaughlin; Sawyer and Evelynn Byrne; Kalli, Kendall, and Cameron DuVall; Alexis Gibson and Anthony Sproul; Dominique Furbush and Joshua Zinkovitch; and Willow and Brooks Chartier; two great-great-grandchildren, Mason and Hazel Lambert; and two sisters, Juliette Thomas and Jeanette Michaud.

A special thank you to Dr. Adam Leigner for his years of listening and guiding our mother’s health with his knowledge and kindness; to the Beacon Hospice staff for easing her suffering and showing her compassion and respect in her final days; and to the two young men from Somerset Valley Remembrance Center who gave our mother her last ride. Thank you also to her sisters-in-law and nieces for including her in the aunts’ and cousins’ lunches, to her longtime friends and neighbors who always made a point to speak to her at church, call on the phone, drop a card, or pop over for a visit, and to her daughters, grands, and greats for the annual shopping trips and lunches.

Messages from her grandkids: "God bless our sweet Nanny—let her know we love her". "She did an incredible job looking after all of us grandkids, and we are all better people for having been brought up with such an amazing grandmother." "Praying she gets to Bampy soon." "We love our Nanny!"

Mother’s last journal entry: “Hi everyone, it is wonderful to see you all. Love, Nanny.” “Thank you for being such an important piece of my story!”

Services will be held at Notre Dame Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville, ME, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will immediately follow at O’Brien’s Event Center, 375 Main Street, Waterville, ME.

Committal service: Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave., Augusta, Maine, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Somerset Valley Remembrance Center in Skowhegan, Maine.

If you can, please make a donation to her favorite charity, “her kids” at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929, or to a child in your community who might need a little extra help.