Obituary: Yvette M. Deschanes

**Maine Community Mourns Long‑Serving Banker and Volunteer Yvette Deschanes** Portland, Maine – Yvette M. Deschanes, a lifelong resident of the Portland area and a 25‑year veteran of Maine National Bank, passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at the age of 93. Her death came at a moment of quiet sunrise, a fitting close to a life spent serving others. Deschanes was born in Waterville to Joseph Mathieu and Lydia (Roy) Mathieu. She attended all levels of school in the city, ultimately earning a degree from Thomas Business School. Her professional career spanned a quarter‑century at Maine National Bank, where she worked in the Trust Department overseeing estates and wills. In addition to her banking duties, Deschanes devoted more than 25 years to volunteer work at Maine Medical Center, where she helped run the popular Coffee Shop and brought a smile to countless patients and staff. In June 1997, Yvette married Bernard O. Deschanes. The couple split their time between Portland and Clearwater, Florida, and shared a passion for dancing, traveling, card games, and spending time with family and friends. Though the obituary notes that they “had four wonderful years together” between the two locations, their marriage endured for nearly three decades until Bernard’s passing, also in 2026. Yvette leaves a large family legacy. She is survived by her daughters, Shari Shepard and Lori Paulette; their husbands, Carroll and Chuck; four grandchildren; and six great‑grandchildren who already miss her. The family also includes extended relatives Bonnie, Jeff, and Jamie Robertson, as well as Lori Glenn and her family. She was pre‑deceased by her parents, her husband Bernard, her sister Geneva, and her brother David Belanger. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Wednesday, June 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church (492 Ocean Ave., Portland). Yvette will be laid to rest privately at Maine Veteran’s Cemetery in Augusta, where she will share the burial plot with her late husband. A Celebration of Life ceremony is scheduled for a later date, with details to be announced. The Deschanes family invites friends, neighbors, and colleagues to honor Yvette’s memory by visiting the online condolence page at . In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to Maine Veteran’s Cemetery, supporting the care of veteran graves. Yvette Deschanes’ contributions to banking, volunteer work, and her community will be remembered for their lasting impact and warm humanity. Her passing is felt deeply in both Portland and Waterville, where she spent her life helping others and sharing her joy.