PITTSTON - Merlene A. Fyfe, affectionately known as "Merl the Pearl," passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday April 19, 2026. Born on July 4, 1938, in Bowdoinham, Maine, Merlene brought love and laughter into the world for 87 beautiful years, leaving behind a life and legacy centered on love, family, and simple joys. Merlene spent a significant amount of her professional life in the healthcare sector as a Nurses Aid, and her later years as a receptionist at FMI where she retired at the age of 84. Merlene cherished time spent with family and friends, especially sharing music together in the family band, The Freedom Riders. She found happiness in gardening, puzzles, word search games, shopping, and in her earlier years, jitter bugging with her late husband. To Merlene, family was what mattered most, always ensuring she was dressed to the nines for every occasion, her charismatic presence lighting up every family gathering. Merlene is survived by her beloved children and their families; Charles Rideout, wife Tammy Rideout, children Jessica Wood, Jason Rideout, and Chaz Rideout, grandchildren Matthew Wood, Jade Wood, Hunter Rideout, Holden Rideout, and Maxx Rideout, and great-grandchildren Juniper Wood and Arurora Wood; Cynthia Leighton and sons Paul Bernard, Derrick Bernard, Ricky Leighton, and Cole Leighton, and granddaughter Hazel Leighton; Kevin Wilson's children Jessica Proctor, Donielle Wilson, Daroyl Wilson and Victoria Libby and grandson Kevin Wilson; Tammy Costigan and husband Patrick Costigan, children Sean Costigan, Shane Costigan, and Kathleen Costigan, and grandsons Brady Costigan and Noah Costigan; Scott Brann and wife Charity Brann, children Joshua Brann, Thomas Brann, Brittany Brann, Wyatt Brann, and Allison Brann, and granddaughter Emma Brann; Reginald Brann and children Reginald Brann, Alyssa Brann, and Ashley Brann; Ervin Fyfe and wife Jessica Fyfe, and children Jasmine Kincaid-Allen, Tyler Fyfe, Renee Fyfe, Logan Fyfe, and Jensen Fyfe, and grandchildren Dykenn Howard, Chevy Kincaid, Beatrice Viles, Thomas Fyfe, Everleigh Fyfe, Hayden Fyfe; Tiffany Cunningham and daughter Tamika Cunningham; Chad Fyfe and fiancé Isadora Friedman and son Chadraq Fyfe; Jared Fyfe and wife Stephanie Fyfe and daughters Riley Fyfe and Harper Fyfe. Merlene is also survived by 3 sisters, one brother, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Witham and Hazel Matson, husband Conrad R. Fyfe, Sr., son Kevin Wilson, and brothers Carl Jackson and Larry Jackson. Visitation will be held on Monday, 11 May 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00pm at the Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave, Gardiner, Maine, where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at 2:00 pm at the same location. A private family committal will be held beside her husband at the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. We invite everyone who knew and loved Merlene to share their memories and upload photos to her memorial page at www.staplesfuneralhome.com.