MADAWASKA – Gaston E. Fortin, 76, passed away Feb. 14, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer, at his residence, which he, with the assistance of his brothers, constructed and in which he raised his family. Gaston was born May 5, 1931, in Madawaska, the son of Arthur and Blanche (Gagne) Fortin. He was a member and director of the Forever Young Club and of RSVP, Madawaska. He also volunteered many hours at the Good Samaritan Thrift Shop, Madawaska. He is survived by his wife, Verna (Pelletier) Fortin of Madawaska; two sons, Michael Fortin of Taunton, Mass., and Robert Fortin and his wife, Robin, of Caribou; seven daughters, Elisabeth Catto of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Susan Core of Madawaska, Nancy Ouellet and her husband, Raymond, of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Elaine McPherson and her husband, Melvin, of Mars Hill, Gloria Collin and her husband, George, of St. Jacques, New Brunswick, Christine Fortin of Presque Isle and June Collin and her husband, Daniel, of Frenchville; 14 grandchildren, Ian and Heather Catto, Andrea Core and her fianc?, Cory Daigle, Eric Ouellet, Arthur “A.J.,” Angela and Amber Cloukey, Sara Collin and Josse Collin and her fianc?, Yves Guy Prima, Cory Adorno, Cheri Michaud and her husband, Bruce, Nathan Collin and his wife, Allison, Samantha and Joshua Fortin; six great-grandchildren, Deseree, Austin, Chase, Katherine, Antoine and Emilie; six sisters, Therese Lizotte of Madawaska, Irene St. Cyr of Florida, Aline Pankey and her husband, Walter, of Mississippi, Claudette Rambush and her husband, Kent, of Florida, Jeannine Clark and her husband, John Marshall, and Janette Picard, all of Louisiana; six brothers, Andre Fortin and his wife, Geraldine, Roger Fortin and his wife, Lorraine, all of Connecticut, Maurice Fortin of North Carolina, Patrick Fortin and his wife, Louiselle, of Madawaska, Louis Fortin and his wife, Marie Ange, and Norman Fortin and his wife, Caroline, all of Frenchville; two stepchildren, Rhea Jayne Lagasse and her husband, Conrad, of St. David and Gary K. Cyr and his wife, Erin Sue Polmanteer; two step-grandchildren, Raylan Kyle Lagasse and his wife, Jamie Lee, of Grand Isle and Jarian Keir Lagasse of Frenchville; one great-stepgrandchild, Evan Her-man Marcus Lagasse; several cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. In addition to his parents, Gaston was predeceased by his first wife, Irene (Sirois) Fortin in 1986; by two infants, Maria and Roger Fortin; by one grandson, Tony Dominic Collin; by two sisters, Jacqueline Massey in 1999 and Beatrice Michno in 2002; by six brothers, Marcel in 1927, Adelard in 1938, Marcel in 1993, Leandre in 1984, Gerard in 2001, Conrad in 2006; and by one nephew, James L. Fortin. A memorial Mass will be celebrated in Gaston’s memory 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Church, Madawaska. Interment will be at St. David Cemetery in the spring.
GASTON E. FORTIN
