Obituary: Theresa I. (Lewis) Chamard
Theresa I. Chamard, who was born Theresa I. Lewis, passed away on Oct. 5, 2026, in Westbrook, where she was born on April 1, 1933. She was the last living child of Arthur P. and Edesse Clara (Thuotte) Lewis and maintained a lifelong connection to the Westbrook community.
She was married to Robert A. Chamard Sr., who died on Oct. 10, 2017. Theresa was known for her loving and energetic personality; she centered her days around family, hard work, and helping others, spreading warmth wherever she went.
She enjoyed knitting, cooking, baking, family gatherings, and playing cribbage and other card games, and she had a special affection for holding babies. In the community, she established Hilltop Kindergarten in Westbrook and operated it for 25 years, even maintaining a fleet of buses that her husband maintained. Before that, she worked in the bakery at Jordan Marsh and later assisted with the family printing business.
Theresa was active in the Red Hats and the Eagles, served as president of the Westbrook Senior Citizens, and worked as a poll worker. Each summer, the family convened at their camp on Sebago Lake, a tradition that reinforced their bond; if a family member missed the Sunday gathering, a phone call would follow. She loved to laugh, tell jokes, and play pranks, a trait that matched her April Fools' Day birthday.
She is survived by her daughter Cindy L. Wilson and her husband David of Yarmouth, and her son Robert A. Chamard Jr. and his wife Patricia of Portland. She also leaves four grandchildren—Carl “CJ” and his wife Mori-Ann, Christopher and his wife Patricia, Destiny and her husband Jeovani, and Samantha—and seven great-grandchildren: Joshua, Lindsey, Marissa, Logan, Andrew, Ezekiel, and Zion, as well as several nieces and nephews.
A private burial took place on Oct. 8 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Westbrook. A celebration of her life will be held at Bruno’s Restaurant, 33 Allen Ave., Portland, on Oct. 24 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. An online guestbook is available at DolbyBlaisSegee.com.
