LEWISTON – Cecilia M. Gagnon, 87, of Lewiston, died Sunday, Feb. 17, at d’Youville Pavilion Nursing Home, after a long illness, with her daughters at her side.

She was born on June 6, 1920, in Cinquante Ans, Canada, and was the daughter of Josephel and Sadie (Rancourt) Jalbert.

She moved to Lewiston from Canada at the age of 17. She married Laurent Gagnon on Jan. 29, 1944, and they shared 37 years of married life together, until his death in 1981. She worked at the Bates Mill in the weave room as a “room girl” for 40 years.

After her husband passed away, she lived independently and enjoyed traveling to many places, her favorites being San Francisco, Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Even though she was a quiet woman, she found tremendous joy in her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved to play bingo and cards with her friends and family. Every Sunday, she would play cards with her sisters. Those around her remember her warm smile and happy and accommodating personality.

She is survived by daughters, Claudette Caron and her husband, Gerald, of Lewiston and Constance Rousseau and her husband, Normand, of Lewiston; she was blessed with seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Irene Champagne of Lewiston, Pierre Jalbert and his wife, Therese, of Lewiston, Laurent Jalbert and his wife, Blanche, of Connecticut, Alice Lufkin and her husband, Thomas, of Lewiston, Fernande Vachon of Lewiston, Marie Bolduc of Lewiston, Laurette Jalbert of Lewiston, Marguerite Larochelle and her husband, Jean, of Lewiston, Claude Jalbert and his wife, Venice, of Connecticut, and Herve Jalbert and his wife, Amanda, of Lewiston.

She was predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Albert and Patrick; and her sister, Bernadette.

Special thanks to granddaughter, Bonnie Smith for the tremendous care giving during her grandmother’s illness. Also a big thank-you to her other grandchildren and siblings for loving her and being there for her during her illness.