1929 – 2016

RUMFORD — Yvette A. Gallant, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Rumford Community Home. She was a resident of Lincoln Avenue in Rumford.

Born in Rumford on March 15, 1929, she was a daughter of Nicholas and Diana (Poulin) Poirier. She held several jobs throughout the years including Diamond Match in Peru, working with local caterers in the area up until she was 86 and most notably was the crossing guard for more than 30 years at the Lincoln Avenue and Hancock Street intersection.

Yvette was a communicant of the Parish of The Holy Savior St. Athanasius – St. John Church; member of St. Timothy Circle No. 504 Daughters of Isabella, Ladies of St. Anne.

Her passion for walking was legendary. She walked through all weather conditions for up to 8 miles a day. The only thing that was more important to her was her family. She was always focused on helping all family members in any way that she could. She attended every event that family members participated in and was the ultimate fan. She always focused on the positive and was kind and humble to all people throughout her life. She was grateful for what she had over the years and never wanted for anything. She took lot of pride in being independent and self-sufficient up to the last month of her life enjoying routine tasks like lawn mowing and snow blowing. She loved life never complaining and enjoyed the simple things in life — dancing, eating and most of all the people around her.

Yvette was married in Rumford in 1953 to Daniel J. Gallant, who died in 1984.

She is survived by her daughter, Diane Johnson and her husband, Donald, of Mexico; two sons, Danny Gallant and his wife, Melissa, of Rumford and David Gallant and his wife, Becky, of Gorham; grandchildren, Samantha Blakenburg and her husband, Julian, of San Clemente, Calif., Kimberly Fournier and her husband, Seth, of Rumford, Greg Gallant and his companion, Desire, of Peru, Chris “Mario” and his wife, Jen, of Peru, Joseph Gallant of Gorham; great-grandson, Bode Fournier; step-grandchildren, Marcel Carrier of Massachusetts and Matt Carrier and wife, Candy, of Rumford; step-great-grandchildren, Lee Carrier and Lilee Carrier of Rumford; a brother, Marcel Poirier and his wife, Audrey, of Pittsfield, Mass.; sisters-in-law, Lillian Poirier of Rumford, Orella Poirier of Mexico, Elizabeth Poirier of Waltham, Mass., and Yvette Poirier of Rumford; a brother-in-law, Paul Gallant of Rumford.

Friends and relatives are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.