PORTLAND – Noella Marie Ledue, 90, of Portland, passed away peacefully at the Gorham House on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Gorham.

Noella was born on Dec. 10, 1930, in Lille, the daughter of Joseph and Annie (Martin) LaChance. In 1942, she moved with her family from their farmhouse in Northern Maine to Portland where she attended local schools and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1948.

Noella went on to marry her high school sweetheart, Kenneth, on Nov. 21, 1953, at St. Patrick’s Church in Portland. She worked in the laboratory of Schlotterbeck and Foss in Portland until she started her family. Noella and Ken raised their six children to feel loved and appreciated.

Our mother was an outstanding cook, seamstress and avid gardener. When she had ‘spare time’ she spent it updating and improving her home. Her childhood years working on a farm came in handy as she reworked the old flowerbeds, painted her home, garage, and just about any surface worthy of a brush stroke. Her experienced hands produced beautiful drapes, colorful outfits for her girls, a Native American costume for a neighbor Eagle scout, stylish décor for her home, and even hair styling for several neighbors.

As her family matured, she took a job at Nathan Clifford Elementary School where she worked in the cafeteria serving “her” children for 21 years before retiring in 2002.

Noella was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Kenneth J. Ledue of Portland; three brothers, Albert, Philip, and Joel LaChance, and two sisters, Irene Dodge and Rita Gallant.

She is survived by her six children, Andrew J. Ledue and his wife, Brenda of Scarborough, Thomas B. Ledue and his wife, Teresa of Buxton, Cynthia M. Lavoie of Portland, Laurie F. Thibeault of Westbrook, Richard E. Ledue and fiancée, Lisa Beauchesne-Dumond of Westbrook, Craig M. Ledue and his girlfriend, Victoria Lemieux of Portland; 13 beautiful grandchildren; nine lovely great-grandchildren; two sisters, Simone McCarthy of Scarborough and Cecile Delaney of Oakland, Calif.; many loving nieces and nephews.

There will be no public visiting hours due to current COVID-19 considerations. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church, Gorham. In-person attendance will be by invitation only; however, a recording of the service will be available the following day and may be viewed at: http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

Private burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. You are invited to share your thoughts and condolences with the Ledue family by visiting Noella’s guestbook at: http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Hobbs Funeral Home, South Portland.

The Ledue family wishes to extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to the Oxford staff of Gorham House for the wonderful care that was provided to our mother during the past two years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Noella’s name may be made to:

The Gorham House,

50 New Portland Rd.,

Gorham, ME 04038.