Francine (Dube) Slowikowski

LINCOLN - Francine went to be with the Lord much too soon after a fleeting but courageous battle to cancer on March 16, 2021. She was born in Machias, Maine on October 13th, 1955 to Raymond and Solange (Reindeau) Dube. Her birthday was shared with her special twin brother, Royal Dube.

Francine graduated from Mattanawcook Academy, and later became a Certified Nursing Assistant, which lead to many years giving passionate care for the elderly in facilities and in private home care in Lincoln to Timbuktu. She was a true pioneer woman at heart and always had "a few tricks up her sleeve," as she would say when she would share her clever ideas. Francine grew up in logging camps in Northern Maine. She learned the virtues and appreciation of hard work and a love for God’s creation of the great outdoors. Francine was adventurous and always up for spontaneous trips. She often took her kids for long late-night drives to visit friends in Virginia. These navigations made for less traffic and she preferred the kids to be asleep while she braved the distant highways alone, with her 357 Smith & Wesson tucked safely under her seat for protection along the way. She loved camping and spending time at Hazzard’s on Cold Stream with her ex-husband, Dale Goding and family. Together, they had 3 children, Jeremy, Julia & Brittany. Francine found her salvation at a Bible study with her lifelong friends. Community Evangel Temple became an important part of her life through a special connection with Sister Bard. She enjoyed serving in love and laughter with the special teens at church in the 80's and made forever friendships with many whom surrounded her in prayer until the very end of her life here on earth. Many meals she served alongside her church family as part of the Harvest Gatherings ministry and with them, took many trips making special memories with her fun and carefree disposition, she was easy going and always up for anything. She really enjoyed partaking in unpredictable pranks she played on her loved ones and co-workers and always had a way to make people laugh; even her laugh could make people smile and laugh, as it was contagious and unique. She treasured her memories from her mission’s trip to Jamaica, as well as all the family camping trips at Hadley’s Point, adventures to Hershey Town, Dollywood and Graceland, just to name a few. Her children feel incredibly blessed to have had such an adventurous Mother, who was so full of life and love. The greatest parts of every trip were her homemade molasses cookies, pumpkin chip cookies and whoopie pies, along with other surprise treats she had packed in the Igloo. She took many trips with her friends and their children to Madagascal Beach, Mt. Kathadin, Old Orchard Beach, and Sunrise Shores. Francine dedicated her life to her family, making many sacrifices and providing as a single Mom for many years. She never lost her laugh and her big smile throughout her life, even in the very end she still smiled with those icy blue eyes. Her family was her mission in life, she would drop anything and everything to be there for her children no matter what. She was always supportive of their decisions and loved them with all her heart. She was proud
of them and all they had overcome and accomplished in their lives. Francine loved to dance. Whenever she heard a beat, her shoulders would begin to grove all the way down to her feet and off she would go, dancing. Her love of dancing and music was inspired by her French- Canadian heritage, where family and friends would often gather for jamborees. She enjoyed playing the harmonica, banjo, singing and foot tapping with her Father (Papa), she spent many days on her sister’s farm visiting while the kids would play in the hay loft, where they weren’t supposed to be. Francine enjoyed trips to Boothbay Harbor, and visits she shared with her older sister. She shared many memories dancing, barbecuing and boating on the lake at Cold Stream with her twin brother and "Sis" Cindy. She was always smiling and laughing, and enjoyed working in the bakery at Hannaford and would later go on to start her own business making wedding cakes on the weekends.

As her children grew up and moved away, she always kept in touch with them. She would visit and bake homemade pies, meals and goodies for them, oftentimes sending many nearly impossible text messages for them to try and decipher. The first time she became a grandmother she was so excited, she traveled for miles just to meet her first granddaughter. The excitement only grew more and more with the arrival of her second, third, fourth...to the tenth grandchild. She planned shopping trips and sleep overs and spent time with her grandchildren watching movies, playing games, dancing, shopping, going to theme parks and Pat’s Pizza. She left every trip full of love and memories from the south until she would return again for her next adventure. Many friendships near and far gave her many memories and funny stories of trips site seeing, shopping, camping, kayaking, white water rafting, deep-sea fishing, Six Flags Theme Parks, four wheeling and going out dancing, she cherished every moment of every adventure. She enjoyed basking in the sun, walking at the M.A. track, skiing at Mt. Jefferson, snowshoeing, x-country skiing, fishing, dining out, and of course yard sales. In 2019, she embarked on fulfilling a lifelong dream of attending college and began her journey working towards her culinary degree to become a professional chef, but to her family, she already was one.

She was predeceased by her husband, Brian Slowikowski, and her mother, Solange (Reindeau) Dube. She leaves behind her father, Raymond Dube; her sister, Ginette Wickett and Mike; her sister, Raymonde Dube; her twin brother, Royal and "Sis" Cindy; her children, Jeremy Goding & Keisha, Julia Bemis & Jeremy, Brittany Goding & Kyle; her grandchildren, Kendall, Brooke, Riley, Austin, Josiah, Ava, Abram, Jonah, Caleb and Natalie; many special nieces and nephews; her dog, Athena, and cats, Hope and Presley (named after her beloved Elvis).

Visiting hours for family and friends will be held from 11am to 2pm, Friday, March, 26, 2021 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. Please be mindful of others by practicing social distancing, wearing a face covering, that staff will be conducting contact tracing, and be aware that the number of people allowed in the building at one time is limited. Due the State of Maine COVID regulations a private service will be held at 2pm after visiting hours. Those wishing to view the life tribute service or leave condolences to the family may do so by going to BrookingsSmith.com and click on available life tributes icon.