STANDISH — Gloria Merrill Komulainen, 83, passed away Sept. 18 peacefully in her home, after a period of declining health.

She was born in South Paris Nov. 21, 1928, to Clarence and Esther Merrill. She attended local schools and graduated from South Paris High School in 1947 and then went on to earn her beautician license.

She met her husband while she worked at the Rexall as a soda jerk and married him in 1949. They moved to Kansas City and she worked several jobs while he was in watchmaking school.They then settled in Merrimac, Mass., where they started their family.

She explored her love for art and took art classes and competed in art shows with her paintings in Boston. She then moved to South Windham, where they purchased the Long Village Motel.She ran a beauty shop out of it while managing the motel for 13 years. She was a member of the Windham Hill Church and a Girl Scout leader. In 1979, they sold the motel and moved to Standish. She went to work outside of the house, working for Sears and Pratt Abbott Cleaners, as well as her hairdressing in her home. She was an active member of the Standish Congregational Church and their Women’s Fellowship. She was a longtime member of the Grandiflora Garden Club and a member of the Eastern Star and Grand Cross of Color.

After retiring, she and Hugo provided care for their grandchildren while taking one day a week to go to South Paris to care for her mother until she passed in Sept. 2010. But all in all, she was known as a wonderfully loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her family was her pride and joy and she was happiest with her family around her. She was affectionately known to the nieces and nephews as “Aunt Go Go,” because she was always on the go and involved with the planning of family events. She loved gardening, cooking, and most recently her kitty, Lucky, who gave her so much joy. She was a talented seamstress, often making clothing, Halloween costumes or anything that was needed. She was loved by all who knew her and respected among the community.

Surviving her is her husband of 63 years, Hugo Komulainen; her sons, David and his wife, Beth of Standish and Thomas and his wife, Linda of Gorham; and her daughter, Diane and husband, Jody of Standish; her grandchildren, Kiirsten, Kalle, Samantha, Chet, Eric, Tommy David, Jason; and great-grandson, Austin; her brother, Clarence (Sonny) Merrill and wife, Bee of Oxford; and sister, Eloise and husband, Peter Collette of West Paris; two sister-in-law, Elvi Morin of Portland and Doris Komulainen of Cape Elizabeth; one last living uncle, Ralph Merrill of South Paris; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank her caregivers over the past couple years from the VNA who were so kind to her and that she appreciated so much, particularly Ann, Judy and Gwen, jer doctors and her most recent caregiver and friend, Norma, for taking such good care of her and treating her with the dignity she deserved right up to her final moments.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.