Donna Nadeau

BIDDEFORD — Donna L. Nadeau passed away peacefully after a valiant battle with multiple prolonged illnesses on the morning of May 19, 2021, at Southern Maine Health Care just days before her 73rd birthday.

She was born in Biddeford, Maine on May 25, 1948, the daughter of Robert B. and Simone I. Bouthot Gosselin. She received her formal elementary education at St. Joseph Catholic School and later at St. Louis High School in Biddeford, graduating in the Class of 1967.

On August 31, 1968, she married C. Arthur Nadeau at the former St. Monica Catholic Church in Kennebunkport, Maine. She devoted her life to being a housewife and supporting her husband’s business ventures.

Donna Nadeau

Donna was grateful and always looked forward to the time she spent with family and her high school classmates with whom she developed lifelong friendships. She was a nurturing family presence who filled many a void created from the passing of people important to her family and circle of friends.

Donna was a dedicated scrapbooker, knitter, and cook (think of chocolate chip cookies and traditional pork pie). You were truly in her orbit if you were the recipient of one of her creations or, more likely, a gift from QVC with batteries and personally written instructions always included. She was at times so enamored by a specific product being sold on QVC (think of Luminara candles) that she would gift them to you for a second or third time. Let’s just say that Donna and the UPS driver were on a first name basis because of the sheer volume of QVC deliveries to her home.

She always cared for the needs of others over her own. While quick to offer personal and medical advice she shied away from placing the focus of attention on herself and receiving offers of assistance from others.

Her enthusiasm for life occasionally resulted in unplanned adventures. Like the time she attempted to teach her grandniece Kristin Foss how to drive — at the cemetery. Of course, the gates were locked before the lesson was completed. The manner in which they escaped was the stuff legends were made of (think of bolt cutters). There are countless other stories that could fill a book.

Donna closely followed the ups and downs of the Red Sox and Bruins with her very close friend Bonnie Randall of Leeds. She loved taking pictures at friend and family events which meant you would soon receive a small keepsake album she created. She would even take photos of images she would see on TV and create albums for you because, well, she could. She clearly kept the Biddeford CVS in business with the voluminous printing of her photos. In return, she relished the many coupons she received for all her photographic efforts.

Donna was preceded in death by: her father, Robert in 1990; her mother, Simone in 1994; her sister, Pauline Gosselin Lomax in 1995; her husband, Art in 2002; and her brother, Bob in 2015.

Her survivors include: her niece and ever-faithful caregiver and advocate, Janice Dubois and her husband, Robert of Lyman, Maine; her brother, Jerry Gosselin and his wife, Judy of Scarborough, Main;, along with many other nieces, nephews and cousins whom she cherished. QVC, UPS and CVS will just need to learn how to live without Donna’s unrelenting business.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, May 29 from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St. in Biddeford. Burial will follow immediately at Laurel Hill Cemetery, 293 Beach St. in Saco. Since we are slowly emerging from the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, family and friends are then invited to join together for a time of storytelling, support, and the sharing of food at the original large venue constructed by the Ocean Park Association (known as The Temple) located at 50 Temple Ave. in Ocean Park. Face coverings and sanitizer will be available for the comfort of guests.

Arrangements are entrusted with Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, Donna’s wish is that you will donate your time or resources to a charity of your choice in her memory.