Germaine (Michaud) Orloff

WATERVILLE – Germaine Alice Michaud Orloff passed away peacefully at 2:15 AM on
Wednesday, June 8th, 2022, at Sentry Hill in York, ME, surrounded by all five of her children. She
was 88 years old.

Germaine was born on September 9, 1933, to parents of French-Canadian descent, and raised in
Waterville along with her five siblings. After completing elementary and middle school at St. Francis
de Sales, and finishing first in her class, she attended Mount Merici Academy on a scholarship for her
freshman year before transitioning to Waterville High School, graduating in 1951. Germaine received
her B.A. in Chemistry from Colby College in 1955, working various jobs throughout her
undergraduate years to pay for her education., including a period at the Keyes Fibre Company.

After graduating from Colby, Germaine married her high school sweetheart, Paul John Orloff, in
1956. Germaine was a devoted wife and mother of five children, all born and raised in Waterville.
On top of raising a large family, Germaine worked as a private tutor for math and science, served as a
substitute teacher in the Waterville school system, and eventually received her M.B.A. from Thomas
College, where she was appointed Assistant Professor teaching math and statistics. At various times,
Germaine also served as Director of Volunteer Services at Thayer Hospital (Mid-Maine Medical
Center), led Hospice Services in the Waterville area, coordinated Bilingual activities at the University
of Maine at Augusta, actively supported the Boys and Girls Club of greater Waterville, and sat on the
Waterville City Council. She was always a dedicated and loyal alumnus of Colby College.

Germaine shared many outside interests with family and friends. She enjoyed snow and water skiing,
swimming, tennis, hiking, boating, croquet, reading and attending Book Club, and, of course, playing
bridge with a fiercely competitive edge. Though some of her physical pursuits gradually became
more limited following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in her late 50’s, she never let her illness
dampen her determination or zest for life. She loved good food, great company, and fine wine. She
and Paul enjoyed the company of many great friends, and they travelled extensively abroad, including
trips to Italy, France, Japan, Russia, and Africa. Germaine will be remembered as a warm and spirited
woman who cared deeply for her family, who never shied away from a good argument, and who felt
strongly about many social issues, driven in part by her Catholic upbringing. She loved having the
extended family, including all her grandchildren, visit the lake home in Belgrade to enjoy her fabulous
cooking, activities on the water, and croquet games on the front lawn.

Germaine’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the wonderful care she received
from the staff at Sentry Hill in York Harbor & Beacon Hospice Services, and at Granite Hill Estates in
Hallowell.

Germaine was predeceased by her husband, Paul Orloff, her parents, Joseph and Hermoza Michaud,
her sister, Gertrude Michaud, and her brother, Joseph Michaud. She is survived by her children and
their spouses John and Gwen Orloff of York, ME, Lauren and Roy Williams of Grand Cayman, Karen
and Brian Maddox of Stuart, FL, Glenn and Lana Orloff of Bethesda, MD, and Ellen and Mark
Gauthier of Wheatridge, CO; her sister, Jeanette Curtis and her husband, Keith Curtis, of Waterville,
ME, her sister-in-law, Betty Michaud of Waterville, ME, her sister, Marie Lacombe of Grants Pass,
OR, her brother Harold (Mitch) Michaud and his wife Stephanie of Shrewsbury, MA; her thirteen
grandchildren Jaclyn Michel, Kirsten and Mark Orloff; Anaise and Chloe Williams; Phoebe, Ian and
Marly Maddox; Max Peselev and Evan and Cole Orloff; and Brynn and Nathan Gauthier; and her
four great grandchildren Evelyn and Sadie Michel, and Kieran and Rory Packer.

A funeral Mass will take place at 10 A.M. on Friday, July 1st, at St. Mary’s Church, 41 Western
Ave., Augusta, ME 04330. A lunch reception will be held beginning 12:30 PM at Glenn Orloff’s
lakeside residence, 71 Stony Point Rd, Belgrade, ME 04917.

In lieu of flowers, please direct
donations to the Alfond Youth Center, Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Waterville, 126
North St, Waterville, ME 04901.

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