MILLINOCKET – Fernande M. ‘Fern’ Gagnon, 74, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, at a Bangor hospital. She was born March 8, 1933, in St. Francis, the daughter of Ernest and Lelia (Dubois) Lebel. Fern was a graduate of the University of Maine – Fort Kent, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Fern had a great passion for teaching and believed it was her life’s calling. She was an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years and taught school in St. Francis, Caribou and Millinocket. While still teaching and raising her family, Fern somehow found time to return to her formal education and earned a master’s degree in education. She retired from teaching in 1991. Fern was an avid gardener and greatly enjoyed growing flowers in her yard. She was a communicant of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Millinocket, where she was actively involved with the Prayer Line, Thrift Shop and helped count the weekly collections. Fern is survived by her husband of 50 years, Arnold E. Gagnon of Millinocket; three children, Thomas E. Gagnon and his wife, Margaret, of Old Town, Patricia L. Wark of Millinocket and Jeanine M. Brown of Sydney; four grandchildren, Matthew T. Wark, Andrew T. Wark, Emily L. Wark and Amanda J. Brown; siblings, Annete Daigle and Laurette Melanson of Fort Kent, Gerard Lebel of Florida, Mary Scott of Bangor, Valierj Lebel of North Carolina and Ernie Lebel of Portland; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by two brothers, Her-man Lebel and Lester Lebel. Friends are invited to visit with the family 9-11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, at Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack St., Millinocket. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated noon Monday at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 112 Maine Ave., Millinocket, with the Rev. Joel Cyr, pastor, presider. Spring interment will be at Millinocket Cemetery. Gifts in memory of Fern may be sent to Katahdin Area Support Group, 10 Field St., Millinocket, ME 04462. Messages of condolence may be expressed at www.lamsonfh.com.
FERNANDE M. ‘FERN’ GAGNON
