Obituary of Gloria Tirrell

Gloria M. Tirrell, 84, of Boothbay, Maine, died at her home on March 10, 2015, after a long battle with several illnesses. She was born in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, to Theodore and Beatrice (Nickerson) Briggs, and was raised in Brockton & Whitman, Massachusetts. She graduated from Whitman High School in 1947 and The John Robert Powers School of Modeling in Boston. She & her husband raised their children in North Easton, Massachusetts. They later moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts, and finally to Boothbay, Maine. During her careers in modeling and fashion, she owned and operated Paula Stevens Fashions in Brockton, Massachusetts for 12 years; after which, she had her own modeling agency designed to train & direct aspiring models and state pageant participants. Yes, indeed, she was one classy lady! Gloria later pursued a career in real estate relocation in Massachusetts. She always went beyond to meet the needs of her clients and was greatly respected in the industry because of it. She loved to dance at her class reunions & her favorite vacation destination was Virgin Gorda. Gloria is survived by Ralph Tirrell, her husband of 63 years; her daughter, Leslyn Olson and husband Dennis of Trevett, Maine; and her son, Steven Tirrell of Boothbay, Maine. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Briggs of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts; her sister Olive Heatley of Bridgewater, Massachusetts; and her sister, Barbara Hovagimian of North Easton, Massachusetts. She leaves her grandsons, of whom she was so proud, Preston Tirrell of Los Angeles, California; Parker Tirrell at Tulane University; and Palmer Tirrell at the University of Florida; and many nieces & nephews. Gloria was predeceased by her siblings Fred Nickerson, Beatrice DeFlavis, Ted Briggs, Jr., Grace Sinderoff, James Briggs, and Judy Kotalis. Cremation services provided by Direct Cremation of Maine, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com.