Fernande Gagne Obituary (1932 - 2016)

Fernande “Ferne” Gagne, 84 Waterville - Fernande Michaud Gagne passed away on Sunday, September 4, 2016. Ferne was born in New Brunswick, Canada near Baker Lake on April 7, 1932, to Eloi Michaud and Melanie Nadeau Michaud. Ferne attended schools in Canada. She moved to Waterville, Maine where she worked as a housekeeper for Duke and Bea Duplessie. She met her husband Fernand C. Gagne while working for the Duplessie’s. They married on July 5, 1955. Ferne and Fern were long time parishioners of St. John the Baptist Church in Winslow. Ferne raised her five children before going back to work. When her youngest started school she went to work as a cook for St. John the Baptist School also in Winslow. She was known for making the best peanut butter toast by many of the students who ate breakfast. Some of her favorite hobbies were sewing, knitting and cooking. Her specialty was knitting mittens for all her family and friends who needed and wanted mittens. You just needed to ask and she would have a pair made within a week. Ferne also loved to cook and liked to try many new recipes but she will be remembered for baking the best homemade bread and baked beans every Saturday. Ferne was a long time resident of Oak Grove Nursing facility. She enjoyed all the activities especially Bingo. She must have been pretty good as she collected many prizes which she showcased in her room. Ferne also loved activities involving any type of music. She enjoyed outings involved in going offsite to a restaurant especially if lobster was on the menu as this was a favorite of hers. She is known to all her grandchildren and great-granddaughter as Memere. Ferne is survived by her daughters Gayle Giroux and her husband, David; Cindy Gagne; Janet Gilchrist and her husband, Gregory; Linda Gagne and her partner Tom Clifford; her son, Steve Gagne and his wife Teri; her grandchildren: Amanda Giroux Simms and her husband, Louis; Heather Giroux; Melissa Giroux; Christopher Gagne; Ashleigh Gagne; Edward Gilchrist and his wife Leslie; Brooke Gilchrist; Arianna Clifford; Alexander Clifford and a great-granddaughter Ana Ryan Gilchrist. Ferne is also survived by her brother Fernand Michaud and his wife Leonette; her sisters, Laurance Michaud Duperry, and Jeannine Michaud. Ferne is predeceased by loving her husband of 46 years, Fernand C. Gagne; her son Lee Gagne; her sister, Yvette Michaud Bouchard; her brothers: Laurant Michaud, Lucien Michaud, Augustin Michaud and two grandsons: Glen Gilchrist and Scott Giroux. Visiting hours will be on Friday September 9, 2016 from 5 – 7 pm at Veilleux Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday September 10 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 112 Silver Street, Waterville. Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Ferne’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with her family. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Fernand C. Gagne on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 10:00 am at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ferne’s memory to: St. John Catholic School, 15 South Garand Street, Winslow, ME 04901