Bangor, Maine - Louise Frances Alerding Masters, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Bangor on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, surrounded by her beloved family. In formal calculation she was 88 years old, but in spirit and spark she was always a treasure of youthful energy, exuberance, endless kindness, and mischievous humor.

"Weezie," as she was affectionately known to her family, came to Maine with her husband, Robert Masters, in 1967 first to Houlton, later to Brewer and Bangor. A woman of deep love for family, faith and service she applied her life to helping others - those close to her and strangers alike.

During her years of work and raising an active family at home, Louise enrolled at the University of Maine at Orono, and obtained a degree in social work in 1983. For the next 17 years she worked for the State of Maine Child Protective Services and later Adult Protective Services. There she applied values that she deeply implanted in her family as well - always offering guidance, counsel and setting a powerful example by returning to school as a single mother.

Louise was widely known and admired for her caring, wisdom and resolve to better the lives of those around her. A product of Catholic parochial schools in Boston, where she was born in the Roxbury neighborhood, she combined her faith with her work to guide, assist and teach. Her sense of compassion was legendary and she was known to help people trying to right their own lives.

Above all, Louise lived a life of deep Catholic faith. She was a long time communicant of St. Mary's Church - now St. Paul the Apostle. At the heart of her faith was her devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary. She often prayed the Rosary, faithfully entrusting her family, her worries and her hopes to Mary's care. In prayer, she found peace, strength and trust in God's will.

Deeply loving everything about Maine she nonetheless always held deeply to all things - Boston. She would tell anyone who asked that she was from Boston and enjoyed visits to the city and following the Boston Red Sox, even getting a chance to visit Fenway Park on several occasions. She also held to all things Irish, being the granddaughter of an Irish immigrant. Louise traveled to Ireland when her son, Patrick, was a student at the University of Galway, enjoyed music at the pubs, visited her grandmother's village in County Cork and discovered hot Irish whiskey.

Always she respected and drew upon the lessons of empathy, honor and principle within which she was raised by her parents, John and Helena Alerding, and passed along such virtues to her own children. She particularly listened to the views of others, appreciating that even if there was disagreement on the surface another's opinion deserved respect.

Worthy qualities these, but Weezie also was adored for her inexhaustible supply of humor and independence of mind. Even as life threw some hard challenges in her direction, she always picked herself up, dusted off her sleeves and kept her vision resolutely forward.

Louise always put her family first, loving them in a way that she believed God calls us to love - faithfully, patiently and without condition. Family was the center of her life and she fondly looked forward to family gatherings.

Louise Frances Alerding Masters was the mother of six children, two of whom, sons, Stephen J. Masters and William A. Masters, predeceased her. She is survived by two daughters, Alayna Jeffrey amd husband, Michael, of Bangor and Christine Webster and husband, Jody, of Westfield, MA; and two sons, Daniel Masters and Patrick Masters, both of Austin, TX. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Alyce Thomas Masters; and a sister, Patricia Alerding Horgan and husband, Denis, of West Hartford, CT. She was predeceased by her two special sisters, Mary and Therese, who she missed immensely. She was also preceded in death by her three brothers, Jack, Leo, and Bill, of whom she shared lots of loving memories and stories. And, in the special joy of her heart, there are 10 grandchildren, Cameron Masters (Erica), Riley Masters (Sara), Angelyn Masters Orsborn (Jake), Jay Jeffrey (Ashton), Dr. Ryan Jeffrey (Alexandra), Kyle Jeffrey, Amanda Masters (Rich), Nathan Masters Olson, Chase Webster and Caroline Webster; and 10 great-grandchildren, Lydia Hewes, Kiernan Jeffrey, Killian Jeffrey, Sloane Jeffrey, Shaye Jeffrey, Ainsley Jeffrey, Jaycee Louise Jeffrey, Parker Masters, Walter Jeffrey and Wyatt Jeffrey.

Louise was happy to have spent the last two years at the Phillips-Strickland House in Bangor, where she made lots of new friends and was particularly fond of the caring staff. The family is grateful for the excellent care she received there.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 12 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John's Catholic Church, 217 York St., Bangor. Those wishing to view the Mass remotely may do so by visiting stpaulbangor.me/live-streamed-masses-1. All are invited to share conversation and refreshments in the Church Parish Hall immediately following the Mass. The Rite of Committal will be held in Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor, at a date and time to be determined in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Louise's memory may be made to the Phillips-Strickland House, 21 Boyd St., Bangor, ME 04401 or to St Paul the Apostle Church, 217 York St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.