Obituary: Lillian Janice Lopes
Remembering Lillian Janice Lopes: A Life of Service, Resilience, and Compassion
WINDHAM — Lillian Janice Lopes, a Maine social worker, disaster responder, and community advocate whose career spanned decades of service to vulnerable children, families, and disaster survivors, passed away on May 26, 2026, in Portland. She was 90.
Born on Oct. 2, 1935, in Bridgton, Maine, to Emma and Theodore Brown, Lopes built a life defined by what those close to her described as resilience, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of others. Her path took her from a small New England town to disaster zones across the United States and Puerto Rico, and ultimately to the rubble of Ground Zero in the days following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Lopes's professional journey in social work began at Sweetser Children's Home, where she worked in a residential program for boys before moving into the organization's first day-treatment program in Windham. She later worked with Androscoggin Counseling Services in Lewiston before founding Windham Counseling Services, a practice that became a cornerstone of mental health care in the region.
Even after establishing her own practice, Lopes continued to expand her knowledge and credentials. At the age of 52, she completed her Master of Social Work degree at Boston University, having already earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Maine. She concluded her career as Clinical Director of Foster Family Connections.
Her contributions to the field earned her significant recognition over the years. She received the Community Health Services Compassionate Caregiver of the Year award and, in 2003, was named Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.
Lopes's commitment to service extended well beyond the office. Through the Portland chapter of the American Red Cross, she served as Coordinator of Mental Health Services and later as Maine's mental health lead. She trained as a national disaster responder, taught Disaster Services Mental Health courses, and participated in relief efforts across the country and in Puerto Rico.
Her final Red Cross assignment took her to New York City in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, where she was among the first national responders deployed to the scene. During a three-week deployment at Ground Zero, she served in multiple capacities, providing mental health support during one of the most harrowing chapters in American history.
Lopes is survived by her children and their families: Stephen Sabasteanski and his wife Karen of Windham; Peter Sabasteanski of San Bernardino, California; Nadine Marchand and her wife Deborah Stahler of Farmington; and Lora Marchand and her husband Mark Nielsen of Corinth, Vermont.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, George Lopes of Scarborough; his sons Larry Lopes of Scarborough and Arthur Lopes of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and her daughter, Sheralee Friedrich of Reno, Nevada.
A burial service will be held at Mayberry Cemetery in Windham on June 26 at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at Rustler's Steak House.
