Oakland woman named Maine Mother of the Year

Monica Wilcox Charette

Monica Wilcox Charette, of Oakland, has been named 2025 Maine Mother of the Year. Charette will be recognized and represent Maine at the 90th National Convention of American Mothers, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in April, where one honoree will be named American Mother of the Year.

A native of Aroostook County, Charette is a graduate of Presque Isle High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Maine at Orono. She has lived in Oakland, Kennebec County, for the past three decades with her husband Randy, and their children, Cassidy and Colby.

She is a journalist, photographer, author, and podcast creator/host. Charette has a 35-year professional career working in the nonprofit sector, including serving as director of public relations for the former Mid-Maine Medical Center, fund development director at Mount Merici Academy, and she served the last 10 years as communications director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine.

Charette is the founder and executive director of ShineOnCass Foundation, a nonprofit created 10 years ago to carry forth the legacy of her 17-year-old daughter Cassidy Charette, a longtime community volunteer and advocate for children, who died in a Maine hayride accident in 2014. According to American Mothers, Inc., Charette has used this platform to champion youth mentoring, animal welfare, youth literacy, provide scholarships for athletics, music and art, and establish multiple community scholarships and awards for service-focused high school students in central Maine. She also helped inaugurate multiple youth mentoring programs in her community and created free lending libraries for children at Boys/Girls Clubs and YMCAs in Waterville and Augusta. She and her son Colby co-host Holding the Light Podcast to support bereaved families of child loss.

Charette also volunteers as a weekly coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters ShineOnCass youth mentoring program at Messalonskee, serves on the Oakfest, Maine Committee, and is a member of the Waterville Area Women’s Club.

“It is an honor to represent all Maine Moms, and especially my fellow bereaved mothers, at the national convention this spring,” Charette said. “I am humbled to be chosen to represent our beautiful state and many mothers for whom I have tremendous respect and admiration. I’ve never been more inspired, or prouder, to be a Mainer.

Every year, mothers from around the country are selected by a national committee from American Mothers, Inc. to represent their respective state as Mother of the Year. The mission is to recognize mothers and their positive impact in their families and communities. To support this year’s Mother of the Year through the Maine Chapter of American Mothers, contact Lisa Newall at Lisa.Newell@va.gov. For information about American Mothers, Inc., visit americanmothers.org.