Gloria Corinne Gallant

Born on June 28, 1927, in West Peru, Maine, she met her husband Edwin on a blind date during her junior year at Saint Joseph's College. Her beautiful smile, wit, and zest for life won his heart and launched a 70-year love affair full of dancing, adventure, family and service.

Age didn't limit or define her. “What's going to be the grand surprise today?” Eternally optimistic and spontaneous, she was always ready to get up and go; dancing to the wee hours, hiking in the woods, zipping down the ski slopes, playing a round of golf or racing down the beach with her young grandchildren. All this was possible due to her unwavering dedication to physical fitness, showing up several days a week to meet with friends for early morning aerobic or weight training classes.

Gloria was intellectually curious, a voracious reader and an avid game player. She wanted to share her intellectual curiosity to inspire others. During her 25-year career at King Middle School teaching foreign languages, she developed creative and innovative ways to spark a love of learning in her pupils and found ways to make every student feel they could succeed.

Gloria had a special affinity for those less fortunate, demanded respect for all, and sought out the best in everyone. For almost 30 years, she and her husband helped prepare and serve meals once a week, first with the Wayside Food Program and then at the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Life-long residents of Maine, Gloria and her husband spent their retirement years visiting family and traveling the world, reveling in the places and people they met. Whether hiking in Alaska or dining in Paris, she was open to any and all opportunities to pack and be off.

She is survived by her loving husband C. Edwin Gallant of Portland, Maine and her five children and their spouses: Mark and wife Donna; Denise and husband Michael Stern; James and wife Linda; Lynne and husband Christopher Kennedy; Mary and husband Michael Kenneally. She was a fun and loving grandmother to 13 grandchildren including Sarah (Gallant) Breeden and husband Daniel, and Matthew Gallant; Jessica, Matthew and Jason Stern; Bryan and Janine Gallant, and Kaylee Gallant and husband Jameson McLendon; Kendra and Esther Kennedy; Thomas Kenneally, Daniel Kenneally and wife Elizabeth, Joseph Kenneally and wife Kendra Dean; and great granddaughters, Layla and Elora Breeden. Her first-born daughter, Michelle, died in infancy.

In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society (Portland, Maine) or your preferred charity. Please visit the website of Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home (www.jonesrichandbarnes.com) for more information regarding visitation and the mass at St. Joseph’s Church or to leave a comment