John R. Goan

South Portland - John Richard Goan, 92, passed away March 26, 2023 at Mercy Hospital. John was born as the 5th of five children to the late Matthew and Ebba Goan on Turner's Island in South Portland, Maine on May 9, 1930. He grew up attending Holy Cross Church where he was baptized and confirmed. After graduating from high school, he began working at Edwards and Walker and stayed there through retirement as a purchasing agent. He met the love of his life, Edna Marie Bellefontaine, through a friend named Helen Barnes, and they were married on April 21, 1956 at St. John The Evangelist in South Portland. After they were married, John built their home in the Thornton Heights neighborhood in South Portland, where John lived until he passed away. Faith was an important aspect of John and Edna's life, and they were lifelong communicants of St. John's until it closed and they moved to Holy Cross Church. John's trust in his savior Jesus was reflected in his love towards others. Although they did not have children of their own, Edna and John had many nieces and nephews in their lives that they loved as their own. John and Edna enjoyed hosting gatherings at their home and John loved doing the cooking. Following the meal, he would have sing-a-longs while he played his organ and piano. Music was an integral part of his life. Many people that he met through music groups became life-long friends. John and Edna loved camping every year at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine where they enjoyed nature and their time with friends. After retiring, John found joy in cooking for Bishop Malone and at church dinners held at St. John the Evangelist in Thornton Heights. He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and was an active member of his community giving back in any way he could through his involvement in the church and charitable organizations. John was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. His kindness and graciousness will always be remembered. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved wife, Edna in 2015. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Raymond, James (Henry), Louis and Edwin; nieces and nephews, James Goan, Jr., Helen Prescott, and Peter Goan. He is survived by his nieces and nephews: Jean and husband Chris of NH; Larry and wife Pat of NH, Joanne and husband Michael of Eliot, Nancy of Westbrook, John and wife Gaynor of MA, MaryAnne of OH, Theresa and husband Eric of Brunswick, Ellen, Shirley, Thomas and William, as well as his nephew Richard Black and niece Carolyn Conley on his wife Edna's side of the family. Prayers will be recited at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 1024 Broadway, South Portland on Friday, April 14 at 10AM followed by an 11AM Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view John's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com.