Doris Lorraine (Lacroix) Thibodeau 85, of Methuen, MA passed away on January 19, 2024, following a brief illness at Holy Family Hospital. The daughter of the late Leonard and Amanda (Lebeau) Lacroix was born at home in Lawrence, MA. Doris grew up on Oxford St. where she met her future husband Napoleon Thibodeau, who was literally, the boy next door. She also made many lifelong friends there. Doris was in her own words a “tomboy”. Growing up she played basketball and was proud to be the “batgirl” for the boy’s baseball teams. Doris attended St Anne’s Elementary School and St. Anne’s High School. She was a proud member of the Class of 1956. She and most of her classmates remained close and attended all the reunions from the 5th through the 65th She attended school in Boston for 1 year to become a stenographer and at 19 she married Napoleon (George, Nap, Pal) on February 1, 1958, and remained married until his passing just over 25 years ago. Doris was an active member of the St. Anne’s PTA in Lawrence. She was a volunteer Girls Basketball Coach, worked BINGO every Friday night and chaperoned countless field trips. She babysat and helped raise and form many children besides her own. She was known as the awesome babysitter. After raising her family, she worked seasonally at the IRS in Andover for over 30 years, retiring only because they closed that office. She had countless friends. There was the “Lunch Bunch” as well as the “Birthday Bunch.” She was known by several names: Mom, Memere, Doris, Doe and Auntie Doe. She was famous for sending cards for EVERY occasion: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. She would send upwards of 200 cards per year. Hallmark will surely notice the drop in sales. Doris was a shopper’s shopper. Her favorite hunting ground was the clearance aisle at Kohls. She used her coupons on senior discount days to come home with bargains she couldn’t pass up. That would be followed by phone calls to find a home for the bargain. Her bargain shopping skills were honed while raising 5 children on a very tight budget. She simply couldn’t buy something that wasn’t on sale. More than anything, Doris loved spending time with family and friends, especially at the beach. Whether it was countless day trips to Salisbury Beach when her family was young, or weeklong stays at Old Orchard Beach or Cape Cod when they were adults, the days were always circled on her calendar. Salt water and jumping waves are good for the soul. It keeps you feeling young. Doris’s last birthday was a weeklong celebration at Old Orchard Beach surrounded by family. Doris attended daily Mass as weather and health permitted, otherwise she would live stream Mass on her computer, responding and singing aloud. She was a woman of great faith, saying her rosary daily with the intentions of family, friends and neighbors ever present in her heart and on her lips. She fought the battle of recurrent metastatic breast cancer along with Dr. Mehta and the fine staff at Dana Farber. The fight took strength, courage, and determination. She inspired friends and family alike. She genuinely cared for those around her and tried to make their lives a little better, even when she grew tired and weak. Auntie Doe, as she was known by scores of nieces and nephews, will be sorely missed. She was selfless to the end, worrying about those who were worrying and praying for her. St. Francis said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” Doris is predeceased by her husband Napoleon and son-in-law Jamie Keizl, her sisters Anita (Ambrose) Chocoquette, Annette (Leo) Morel, Lillian (Buddy) Walton, Yvette “Tootsie” (Albert) Arsenault. Brothers, Eugene Lacroix, Robert (Evelyn) Lacroix and Normand (Pauline) Lacroix. She is survived by her dear sister-in-law Claire Lacroix. Doris is also survived by her 5 children, Thomas (Joanne), Tim (Sandra) and James of Spring, TX; Judy Keizl of Methuen and Linda Thibodeau (Mike McLaughlin) of Dracut. Her 9 grandchildren, Tim Thibodeau, Jr. (Stacy), Amanda Thibodeau (Jeremy Mineau), Samantha Schisler (Nick), Meagan Willman (Daren), Craig Keizl, Carolyn Keizl, Dylan Thibodeau, Shonna Thibodeau and Grace Thibodeau, 6 Great Grandchildren, Riley and Cain Wallace, Tim Thibodeau, III (Trey), Knox and Ezra Willman and Bowie Mineau.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 2 – 4 p.m. or 7 – 9 p.m. at Edgar J. Racicot Inc Funeral Homes, 1400 Broadway Rd. Dracut, MA. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at St. Theresa’s Church (Our Lady of Good Counsel) in Methuen at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.racicotfuneralhome.com