Family and faith motivated and guided Bertha Gagne Grondin throughout her 80 years. The beloved wife, mother and grandmother lived her life led by her generous heart.

The longtime Wheaton resident died Wednesday, Aug. 29, in her home surrounded by family.

Bertha was born March 6, 1938, one of five children of Henri and Bernadette Gagne of Westbrook, Maine.

She grew up in Westbrook and attended St. Hyacinth Parochial and Westbrook High schools, graduating in the Class of 1956. Upon graduation, she worked as a book keeper at Benoit Clothing Store in Westbrook.

Bertha loved to quip that she was blessed to find herself a fellow French-Canadian when she married Peter Grondin Aug. 29, 1959.  A devoted wife, she supported her husband while he attended college and moved with him and their first child to California when his job transferred him early in their marriage.

They lived in California for several years during which they added five more children to their family before settling in Wheaton in 1972 and welcoming their seventh child.

Family was her pride and joy, and she was instrumental in upbringing of their seven children while Peter was working as a traveling salesman. When she wasn't cooking, cleaning, carpooling or helping with homework, she was volunteering. She was involved for several years as a troop leader and more with the local Boy Scouts of America and Camp Fire Girls organizations.

Bertha also was a strong advocate of reusing and recycling long before it became fashionable. With her artistic mind, she would transform scrap pieces of yarn, fabric or other objects into cute ornaments and other crafty decorations. One spring she spent several hours over a few weeks making holiday ornaments with her younger daughters, so they could give gifts when they threw a surprise Christmas in July party for relatives during the family vacation back home in Maine. She loved Maine and the ocean, enjoying regular trips home over the years and several cruises during retirement.

Bertha also was very involved in St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church in Wheaton. She worked in the parish office for several years, attended Scripture studies groups and served as a Greens Keeper tending to a Church garden plot, in addition to attending weekly Mass.

She enjoyed architectural tours, gardening and genealogy, devoting many hours delving into family history from Maine to previous generations in Canada and earlier in France. She loved sharing interesting anecdotes and facts with relatives. She created binders for each of her children.

When she and Peter weren't enjoying cruises with dear friends, she was lavishing love and care on their sixteen grandchildren. She spent countless hours over two dozen years babysitting, going on vacations, attending band concerts, cheering at countless baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and hockey games—and changing even more diapers for her beloved grandbabies. She relished being a Memere.

Bertha is survived by her husband of 59 years, Peter Edward Grondin, their children Valerie Grondin (Emily Urbaniak) of Montgomery, Cynthia (Steve) Dove of Mount Prospect, Michael (Jeanette) Grondin of St. Charles, Richard (Leslie) Grondin of Bellingham, Wash., Anthony Grondin of Montgomery, Kathryn (Corey) Kosloski of Naperville, and Melissa (Darren) Patti of Naperville; sixteen grandchildren: Heather and Nicholas Dove; Justin, Rachel and Nicole Grondin; Ke'alohi and Makana Grondin; Kyle and Jordan Grondin; Jason, Dylan and Kyra Kosloski; and, Ethan, Tyler, Alexa and Brayden Patti. Also surviving are her sisters Pauline Savarin of Cordova, Tenn., and Isabelle (Philip) Cilley of Westbrook; and many nieces and nephews, as well as several dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bernadette and Henri Gagne of Westbrook, ME., her brother Robert Gagne and sister Georgette Girard, also of Maine.

Arrangements are being handled by Hultgren Funeral Home 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, where a memorial wake will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.  A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 101 West Loop Road in Wheaton. The Rev. James Dvorscak will officiate. Burial will be private at Assumption Cemetery in Wheaton. Memorials in Bertha's name can be made to the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic in New York at www.maryknollsisters.org .