Estelle M. Provencher

Estelle M. (Roy) Provencher, of Waltham, died peacefully at home on Friday, November 25, 2022, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 93. 

Estelle was born on April 4, 1929, in Quebec, Canada, the daughter of the late Georges and Dorilla (Girouard) Roy. Raised on her family's farm, she was educated in Quebec and earned a diploma in home economics. At 22, she immigrated to the United States, settling in Waltham, MA. She was married to her beloved late husband, Adrian J. Provencher, for 56 years until his passing in 2008. 

Estelle enjoyed being with her family, cooking, sewing, the outdoors, and her Catholic faith. She would prepare for large family gatherings, making the main course and all the trimmings, and even baking several pies. She and her husband had a second home in New Hampshire, where they enjoyed the natural landscape, abundance of trees, and the view of the lake.  In the winter Estelle enjoyed cross-country skiing and loved to ice skate on the lake. She would say, "Come skate with me. The lake is as smooth as glass." Estelle and her husband had extra skis and skates of all different sizes, so whoever visited could participate in the activities. Estelle had a strong Catholic faith and never missed Mass on Sundays. As part of the Saint Joseph’s Ladies’ Guild, she made many lifelong friends, including her closest friend, the late Alma Aucoin. Estelle was a talented seamstress, once creating all the dresses for her daughter’s wedding party. On many occasions, she helped family and friends with their tailoring needs.

Her life philosophy was to see the good in people. She always made a conscious effort to achieve this, and never made a negative comment about anyone. She loved babies and the youngest one was always the most beautiful baby ever. She had a tremendous trust in God and would often say, “Do your best and God will do the rest.”

She is survived by her children, Robert Provencher of Long Beach, California, Michel Provencher, (son-in-law Bill Lassetter) of Waltham, Vincent Provencher of Waltham, Gabrielle McGrath (son-in-law Gary) of Waltham, Paul Provencher of Sudbury, Lucille Provencher of Waltham, Marc Provencher of Jensen Beach, Florida, Louise Heath (son-in-law Alfred) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Helene Aucoin of Waltham, Martin Provencher of Sudbury, and Adrienne Politis (son-in-law Peter) of Waltham; and 24 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren and her sister, Aline Roy of Cananda.

In addition to her beloved husband, she was preceded in death by granddaughter, Rachael Provencher; grandson, Justin Provencher; great-granddaughter, Georgia-Rae Murphy; daughter-in-law, Christine Provencher; son-in-law, Gerard Aucoin; and siblings Georgette Roy Auger, Alec Roy Dube, Rita Roy, Gilles Roy, Euclid Roy, all of Canada.

Family and friends will honor and remember Estelle's life by gathering on Friday, December 2^nd , from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at The Joyce Funeral Home and again at 9:00 AM on Saturday, December 3^rd in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte. 20), Waltham, before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham, where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham, MA. 

In lieu of flower, the family requests memorials in her name, to Massachusetts Citizens for Life, a non-partisan, secular organization that recognizes that each human life is part of a continuum from conception to natural death. https://www.masscitizensforlife.org/