OBITUARY Loretta Rose Gallant May 10, 1923 – July 21, 2018 Old Town – Loretta Rose (Martin) Gallant, 95, died on July 21, 2018. She was born on April 10, 1923, in Old Town, where she stayed and raised her nine children with husband, Walter Gallant. After Walter’s death, Loretta found companionship with her close and long-time friend, Freddie Burke, now deceased.
She was known and loved by many in the community, working in the Old Town Woolen mill for many years, followed by the Old Town shoe company and retiring from the University of Maine. After retirement, she continued to work well into her 80s at a local bed and breakfast. She was a long-time member of the Emblem Club and the Ladies of the Auxiliary of the VFW.
She was a devoted Catholic and attended the Holy Family Parish Church in Old Town every week. Her most impressive and appreciated life work was her devotion to and love of family. Known as “Ma” to her kids and Meme to her countless grandkids and great grandkids, she shaped the lives of many generations.
No family get together was complete until Meme arrived. She brought joy, love and laughter like no other, not to mention countless humorous family stories and genuine sassy fun. She was the first on the wedding dance floor and the last one standing at many a family card game, which was sure to be followed with an innocent shoulder shrugging grin.
She never missed a birthday and knitted hundreds of mittens and socks for her grandkids, well into her 90s. Her final week in this life involved the wedding of her granddaughter, a toe tapping visit to the Old Town concert in the park series and a community yard sale. To her nine children, she showed by example the honor of hard work, the importance of generosity and most importantly, that there is no more important thing in life than family.
She taught this loudly, lovingly and often; instilling it in her children, who in turn instilled it in their children and so on, down the line; touching and shaping countless lives. Loretta will join her brothers and sisters as she was the last survivor. She was predeceased by her special grandchildren, Abbey Baker, Elliot Bois-Horne, Jessica Mortvedt (Plummer), and Shawn Plummer; her sons, Richard, Philip, and Steven Gallant, and her daughters, Carol “Jeannie” Adams Plummer and Elizabeth Gallant.
She will be missed greatly by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters, Debra Horne and Brenda Gallant with special friend, Scott Mansur, her sons, Walter Gallant and his wife, Nancy, and Daniel Gallant and his special friend, Jeane Linscott. She also continued to be very close with her late son Richard’s widow, Diane Gallant and her special friend, Ed Lucas.
Her family would like to send out a big thank you to the Marsh Island residents for making Loretta feel welcome and helping her navigate her way around. Friends may call from 6 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at the Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, at Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, Old Town.
Immediately following the funeral mass, a luncheon will be served at the Parish Hall. Burial will be held at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery, Old Town. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or online at www.
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