Gloria Nadeau passed away after a lifetime of love on May 23, 2023.

Gloria Eleanor was born June 18, 1937, to Peggy (Lesuer) and Elton Welch of Kennebunk. Gloria attended Kennebunk school systems and excelled in her classes. She played the clarinet and was a cheerleader. She then met her husband Fredrick “Buck” Nadeau. They were married in 1955 and had four children. They had an amazing marriage. Gloria and Buck both obtained their real estate license to one day open an office.

Gloria Nadeau

In 1974 her husband unexpectedly passed away leaving her with three minor children. Gloria left KHS a few months before graduating in the class of 1955. She went back and got her high school diploma and went on to get her master’s degree in adult education. Gloria worked for Maine Title Company, Saint Joseph’s College and then took employment in the Financial Authority in Augusta for 10 years. She allocated funds for those that wanted to become physicians. Gloria moved to Augusta for her new employment.

One night while out with her colleagues from work, as she was leaving, she caught the eye of a man who would change her life: Richard “Sam” Samson. Sam returned to the bar every night for a month to see if he could run into her again. The night Gloria returned to the bar, before she could even take her coat off, he asked her to dance. Sam became her life partner.

They drove across the country attending Hot Rod Runs in a 1934 Ford Coupe, painted yellow with red flames named “She Bad.” And one of the highlights was going to the Bonneville Salt Flats where Sam raced “She Bad II” trying to break 200 mph. Sam and Gloria lived in Strong, Maine. They had an amazing custom home, as those who visited can attest to.

In 2003, Sam was killed in a car accident. In 2004, Gloria moved into her own apartment in the home of Stephanie and Michael. She reunited with her class of 1955 for monthly lunches together and called themselves “The Lunch Bunch” until the pandemic struck. Gloria would spend endless hours reading, spending time with family and watching her favorite shows with her cat companion of 17 years, Katrina.

Gloria is predeceased by her parents, her brother Elton “Skeeter” Welch Jr. and his wife, Betty Welch, her niece Cindy Welch, her grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

She has survived by her brother, Mike Welch. Her children: Donna Nadeau, Rick Nadeau, (Kim), Tammy Nadeau and Stephanie Nadeau (Michael); her six grandchildren, Keeya Goodwin, Scarlet Pereira, Ginger Nadeau, Rick Nadeau Jr., and Taj and Owen Mallory; her great-grandchildren, Freya, Cassidy, Paxton, Cooper and Eden, as well as her cat Katrina and many cousins, nieces, their children and a nephew.

Visiting hours will be held from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, where a funeral service will follow at 5:30 p.m. Interment will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Hope Cemetery in Kennebunk.

In lieu of flowers, donations can made in memory of Gloria Nadeau to the Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St., Kennebunk, ME 04043. To leave a message of condolence, please visit Gloria’s Book of Memories at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk.