Obituary of Delphine L. O'Brien

Delphine Leona O'Brien, 89, passed away peacefully at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough on May 16, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. Delphine was born in Bangor on September 14, 1930, the youngest daughter of Delphine E. (Duquette) and Felix J. Veilleux. Delphine attended St. John's Grammar School and John Bapst Preparatory High School. After graduating High School in 1948, she attended Husson College and began a long career with the New England Telephone Company. She started out as a telephone operator, later working in Engineering and Repair Service on the Odlin Road in Bangor. She was a long-time member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, contributing to various charitable events. In April of 1955 she married the true love of her life, Joseph Daniel “Danny” O'Brien. Together they raised five children on Fern Street in Bangor. After retiring, they spent many years volunteering for The Attic, a thrift store benefiting All Saints Catholic School. Delphine was an excellent soloist, singing for many years in the Bangor Community Choir and as a Cantor at St. John's Catholic Church. Delphine and Danny enjoyed traveling together and spent many summers with family on Moosehead Lake and several winters in Edgewater Florida as well as The Villages. Always an engaging conversationalist, Delphine would make new friends wherever she went and she truly cherished her many life long friends. A talented seamstress, Delphine made many of her children's dress clothes and costumes for their dance recitals. She continued her love for sewing in her retirement years by becoming an accomplished quilter. She made a special quilt for each of her children and grandchildren as a keepsake to hold dear for years to come. After sixty-one years of marriage, Danny passed away in 2016. Delphine then relocated from Avalon Village in Hampden to Southern Maine to live closer to family. At the time of her death she was a resident at Stroudwater Lodge in Westbrook, where she enjoyed weekly exercise classes, playing bingo, reading and outings with family and friends. Delphine leaves behind five children; Julia O'Brien of Laguna Beach, CA; Lisa and husband Woodie Bartley of Greenville and Old Orchard Beach, ME; Gina and husband Joe Sandora of South Portland, ME; Teresa Owens of Fair Oaks, CA; and Dan and wife Lisa O'Brien of South Lyon, MI. She will be missed by her six grandchildren: Dr. Michaella Lavigne and husband Scott of Westbrook, ME; Dr. Bethany Bartley and partner Brandon of Boston, MA; Ian Owens of New York City, NY; Jordan O'Brien of South Lake, TX; Nicholas O'Brien of Detroit, MI and Nolan O'Brien of South Lyon, MI. Delphine was also blessed to have four great-grandchildren; Bradley, Mason & Bridget O'Brien and Olive Lavigne. She also loved and adored Lacy Zigrang of Fort Worth, Texas, mother of three of her great-grandchildren. Delphine was predeceased by three sisters and two brothers and is survived by her sister-in-law Mrs. Carolyn Veilleux of Bangor as well as several nieces and nephews. Her family would like to thank the caregivers at Stroudwater Lodge in Westbrook and Maine Medical Center in Portland for caring for their mother during a challenging pandemic. They would also like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House for providing her with the compassionate care and comfort she needed in her final hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Monday, September 14, 2020 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John's Catholic Church,York St., Bangor, followed by a luncheon downstairs in the parish hall. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kiley & Foley Funeral Home of Bangor and Brewer. Messages and memories for the family may be shared at kileyandfoley.com. In lieu of flowers, and in light of our times, donations may be made in Delphine's memory to The Good Shepherd Food Bank online at gsfb.org.