Dorothy C. Nadeau, 79, loving wife of Joseph L.B. Nadeau, died peacefully on Tuesday, surrounded by her loving family at the Friendly Nursing Home.
Born on May 3, 1933, in Old Town, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Alvin “Jack” and Gladys (Dow) Strout. She was the sister of Mary-Ann (Strout) Taylor of Wells, Maine.
“Dottie”, as she was known to her husband and school chums from the Class of 1952 Old Town High School, worked in the University of Maine bookstore. She was accepted to the University of Maine at Farmington, known as “normal school” for teachers in her day, before meeting a dashing young airman from Woonsocket. She chose to join “Bert” Nadeau on a journey through life that included raising five children, spending cherished time with their families and seven grandchildren, and traveling around the country.
She never forgot her days growing up in Old Town, reminiscing often with lifelong friends, Cynthia (Whitney) Libby and Mary Ann (Connors) Prugh, over stories of high school, work experiences, and good times enjoyed with the Jolly Juniors, their informal school group.
Growing up, Dorothy was a thoughtful daughter who loved taking in a movie with her father Jack, or sitting with her mother, Gladys, at the kitchen table for a chat with friends.
As a fulltime mother of five, she worked part-time at the Air Force Base Exchange, while her husband served on active duty. After her husband retired from the Air Force to Woonsocket, she worked part-time in the dress department of McCarthy’s Department Store. Dorothy never ceased to amaze her family with her skill as the matriarch when duty called. Her home-seamstress creations in the 1960s and 1970s were quite remarkable and stylish, drawing fond memories from family and friends even today.
She was an inspirational mom, a great friend always, and very much loved by her family. Dorothy and her husband, a retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant and native of Woonsocket, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary last February.
She is survived by: her son Mark W. Nadeau and his wife Betty(Dupont) of Woonsocket; her son Joseph B. Nadeau and his wife Linda (Malo) of Woonsocket; her son Eric R. Nadeau of Woonsocket; her daughter Diane Lynch and her husband Alex of Cumberland; her son Paul A. Nadeau of CT; and her grandchildren: Ashley, Jamie, Ryan, Jonathan, Jeremy, Victoria, and Nicolas. She is also survived by her niece Colleen Boyle and her nephew Keith Taylor, and her maternal aunts and uncles; Luella Hicks, Lucinda Breault, Arthur Dow, Charlie Dow, and Herbert Dow.
Her funeral will be held Tuesday at 9:30AM from the Fournier & Fournier Funeral Home, 99 Cumberland St, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM in St Joseph’s Church, Mendon Rd, Woonsocket. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland. Visiting Hours are Monday 4-7 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the charity of your choice.