OBITUARY

Deacon Gerard Gagné, 71

Published: 06.20.08

Deacon Gerard Gagné, a deacon from Boston who served winters at Espiritu Santo Parish in Safety Harbor, died April 29, in Lawrence, Mass. He was 71.

Deacon Gagné served at Espiritu Santo since 2001. He ministered in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, religious education, and a men’s Scripture group; performed baptisms, gravesite and wake services; and assisted with Sunday liturgies.

Before becoming a deacon, he taught foreign languages in public schools in Methuen, Mass., for 33 years, and served on the board for the foreign language department curriculum for the state of Massachusetts. His education includes bachelor’s degrees in history and political science from Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass; a masters in guidance counseling from Salem State College, Salem, Mass.; a masters in French and French literature from Rivier College, Nashua, N.H.; and post-graduate work in foreign languages at Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Conn.; and Boston University.

His family said he had a deep passion for serving Jesus through the Blessed Mother and he was ordained a permanent deacon May 7, 1977, for the Boston Archdiocese.

Deacon Gagné is survived by his wife, Marguerite, three children and nine grandchildren. At his funeral Mass, his children said their father’s love of ministering to others continued through the final days of his life. Shortly before he died, he shared a hospital room with a man suffering from terminal lung cancer. A few days after the man left the hospital, Marguerite Gagné found a note thanking the deacon for his words of encouragement. “You have renewed our faith and we are thankful for that,” it said. His family also said that just hours before he died, the deacon sent a strong message of faith to his loved ones by saying aloud, “Lord, I am waiting to do what you want of me. … I’m listening.”

His funeral Mass was celebrated in Massachusetts. Locally, a memorial Mass was celebrated May 21 at Espiritu Santo.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Gagné Family, c/o Espiritu Santo Parish, 2405 Phillippe Parkway, Safety Harbor, FL 34695. The parish will forward condolences to the family in Boston.

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