Gloria Comeau, née Johnson, who retired at 80 as a teacher for special needs children in Plymouth Public schools, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Sept. 7. She was 94.
Born July 9, 1932, in Boston to the late Anna and Eric Johnson, who immigrated from Kopparberg, Sweden to the South End section of Boston, she graduated from high school in Jamaica Plain and married her late husband Louis E. Comeau, who was home from his stint in the marines during World War II. They were married 68 years, settling in Manomet, where she lived for 76 years.
Although she held several jobs over the years to support her family, her true passion lay in her role as a mother and educator. She worked as a lunchroom attendant while her children were in school, and then as a preschool teacher, and later as a paraprofessional teacher for the Plymouth Public Schools, where she dedicated herself to helping special needs students develop essential life skills.
Family and friends remember her devilish laugh, wry sense of humor, and her legendary love of BINGO, both the game and her dog. She also remained deeply connected to her Swedish heritage, traveling when able with family to Sweden and welcoming her extended Swedish relatives over the years to Plymouth. She celebrated her 94th birthday with her cousin Lollo Haneskog, her partner Mats Melin and their young daughter Asta, visiting from Hallstahammar, Sweden.
She is survived by her children: Susan Merrifield of Deltona, Florida; Louis “Skipi” Comeau, Jr. of Royalston; Kathleen McMinn of Plymouth; and Daniel Comeau and his wife Theresa of Carver; eight grandchildren, Stephen Kotowski, Adrienne Walker, Kyle Comeau, Nathan McMinn, Annalise (Ali) McMinn, Daniel Comeau, Amelia Comeau, and Aiden Comeau; seven great-grandchildren, Mariah Richards, Henry Walker, Avery Walker, James Walker, Cecilia Walker, Elodie McMinn, and Maisie McMinn; and great-great-grandson Lucas Richards.
She was preceded in death by her husband Louis and daughter Sharon Comeau of Plymouth.
Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Davis Funeral Home, 619 State Rd., Plymouth (Manomet), followed by a memorial service at 3:30. A private family burial at the Manomet Cemetery will be on a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in her memory to a charity of your choice, honoring her generous and compassionate spirit.