NORTH YARMOUTH — Gladys A. Dupont, 96, of Granite Street passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by family and friends on Monday, May 22.
She was born in Freeport on June 9, 1920, the daughter of “Roy” Clyde Norton Sr. and Maggie (Smith) Norton.
Gladys attended local schools and graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1939.
Gladys was born and raised on a farm, that being her first and most enjoyed work. She enjoyed working in the fields and gardens and tending to the animals, cows being her favorite.
In 1950, she married “Pete” Omer Dupont and they continued their life together on the farm where she grew up. There she became the mother of one daughter, Ruth, who meant the world to her and Pete.
Growing up, Gladys would visit her grandmother, Inez Smith, who lived in Westpoint, just outside of Phippsburg. Each time they visited, they went to the ocean and out to get an ice cream. This was a special memory for Gladys.
Throughout her life, Gladys had several jobs. Her first, outside of working on the family farm, was at the shoe shop. She then went on to work at a chicken-processing plant. Her last job, from which she retired, was making children’s clothing at Healthtex. Aside from these, she was also involved in a family endeavor of slaughtering chickens. Anyone that saw Gladys work, whatever task it may had been, would say her hands moved like lightning. She was fast, and very proud of it.
Gladys was a dedicated daughter, and lived at the farmhouse with her mother, Maggie, throughout her whole life. She took care of her mother at home until she passed away at the age of 98.
Gladys had many pastimes that she enjoyed. She sewed, and if you ever needed anything hemmed or fixed, you knew who to bring it to. She also enjoyed cooking and baking, and was notorious for her homemade apple pie. She loved picking strawberries and had a knack for canning fruits and vegetables. Gladys had a love for dishes, she started collecting them at a young age, and never stopped. She also enjoyed yard sales, and “pickin” the dump, because “you never know what you might find.” Gladys put on a good lobster feast, and “as a rule,” everyone should have at least two “lobbies” (as her daughter Ruth would call them). She was a woman with a million-dollar smile, as some would say. It took you a long time to get the Gladys stamp of approval, but once you did, you knew it.
During the last months of her life, Kathleen Eaton provided a place for Gladys to be cared for comfortably. Gladys also became very close with her grandson Peter’s dog, Cali Jean. She called Cali her “protector” because she never left her side, and was with her when she made her transition into heaven.
Gladys has several nieces and nephews. She was closest and shared in the same passions with two of them. Louise has the same love of baking, and would bring her Aunt Gladys baked goods from her bake shack. Every Memorial Day, Louise would bring Gladys to put flowers on the graves, and enjoy a fish filet. Mark and his wife, Diane, also share the love of gardening that Gladys had. They have several greenhouses and grow their own vegetables. Gladys enjoyed fresh vegetables from them over the years.
She is survived by her grandson, Peter MacLean and his fiancée, Sherry Eaton; her grandson, Rodrick MacLean; her niece, Louise Lecompte and her husband, Dan; her nephew, Mark Malm and his wife, Diane; her son-in-law, John MacLean; and her great-grandson, Nicholas and his girlfriend, Alyson; along with many many friends.
Gladys was predeceased by her parents, “Roy” Clyde Norton Sr. and Maggie Norton; her sisters, Winnie Stasinowsky and Josephine Malm; and her brothers, Ralph Norton, Maurice Norton and Roy Norton. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Ruth MacLean.
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Gladys A. Dupont
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