1939 – 2015

AUBURN — Gisele Irene Denis Lagasse, 76, entered into eternal peace on Saturday, July 18, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice.

Gisele was born in Nancy, France, on May 10, 1939, the eldest daughter of the late Herve Denis and Anna Hubert. She married the late Joseph R.H. Lagasse on Dec. 5, 1958, in her village parish in Viller-en-Haye, France. The couple meeting at the military base in France where Gisele was working and Joseph was stationed while serving in the U.S. Army.

Gisele was a devoted wife and mother. Having overcome many obstacles in her life, she was an example of strength to her five daughters. She selflessly gave of herself to her family and took on their struggles as her own and celebrated in each of their achievements.

Gisele, a seamstress by trade, enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting. Many of her works becoming family heirlooms now passed on to her great-grandchildren. Gisele spent countless hours picking blueberries in her orchard and working in her gardens. From the yields of her gardens, she would make her family special treats, such as her home-made pumpkin pie. Gisele served as assistant coach of her daughters’ swim team the Lewiston Recreation “Weeeeeos” for 10 years.

Gisele is survived by four daughters, Dolores Robitaille and partner, Andy Castonguay, of Lewiston, Jeannine-Anna Levesque and her husband, Leo, of Lewiston, Anne-Marie Fitzler and her husband, Michael, of Wilmington, Mass., and Dianne Durkin and her husband, Tim, of Plains, Penn.; grandchildren, Steven Robitaille and partner, Heather Marsh, Scott Robitaille, Stacey Chase and her husband, Kevin, Ryan Lagasse and his wife, Stacey, Billy Gayton, Joshua Fitzler, Alex Fitzler, Angelina Davis-Durkin, Joseph Davis-Durkin and Corinne Durkin; four great-grandchildren, Aidan Robitaille, Morgan Chase, Ethan Lagasse and Ellie Lagasse; sister, Nicole Philippe and husband, Claude, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Denis, all of France; sister-in-laws, Rita Berry, Jean Estrella and her husband, Abraham; brother-in-law, Leo Lagasse; and many nieces and nephews in the United States and Europe.

Gisele was predeceased by her parents, Herve Denis and Anna Hubert; brothers, Julien, Jackie, Andre, Roland and Claude Denis; stepfather, Antoine Hubert; her daughter, Nicole “Nicky” Lagasse. Most recently, Gisele lost the love of her life, her husband of 56 years, Joseph Lagasse, after a sudden illness in March of 2015.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.