1916 – 2003

NORWAY — Geneva Gagnon, 87, of Buckfield, died Saturday, Nov. 29, at Stephens Memorial Hospital with her loving family at her side.

She was born in East Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 8, 1916, to Harold and Florence Holman Hodge. She moved to Maine when she was eight years old and graduated from Buckfield High School in 1935 with honors.

She entered Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, graduating in 1942.

She married Warrant Officer Aristide Gagnon in 1943 and worked in various hospitals while travelling with her Army husband. She returned to Maine during World War II where she did private duty nursing in her home town of Buckfield. She was known for starting the first P.T.A. in Buckfield High School, and also coached many minstral shows and Fourth of July celebrations.

She moved to South Paris in 1956 where she did private duty nursing at Stephens Mmorial Hospital. She was also part owner of Ocean View Cottages at Old Orchard Beach, in 1961. In 1990, she moved home to Buckfield where she was a member of the Buckfield Literary Club, Penny Players Card Club, and a past member of the North Buckfield Grange.

She loved music, having been brought up in a musical family. In later years she enjoyed puzzles, playing cards, her friends, line dancing, and also her friend Barney, the cat.

She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Lovejoy and her husband Guy of Buckfield; three grandchildren, Cathy Alling and her friend Steve McDonough of Florida, Michael Lovejoy and his wife Karen of Buckfield, and Anita Newton and her friend Jorge Caraballo of Limington; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband Aristide Gagnon; and four older sisters, Marguerite Bessey, Edith Douglass, Elizabeth Knight and Hilda Heald.