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Yvonne Gagnon Obituary – 4/17/2015


Yvonne (Sexton) Gagnon, age 93, of Waverly, passed away Friday, April 17, 2015.

She was born April 22, 1921, to Thomas and Kathryn (Dugan) Sexton. Yvonne grew up at the Sexton family farms in Hollywood Township, and later in Woodland Township.

She graduated from Watertown High School in 1940, and from Buffalo Teacher Training School in 1941. Yvonne continued her education, taking off-campus classes for teacher re-certification for the next 22 years.

She taught in one-room country schools in the 1940s, was an original Head Start teacher in the 1960s, and later a fourth grade teacher at St. Peter’s Catholic school in Delano. Yvonne loved teaching, and some of her students became lifelong friends.

Yvonne married her favorite dance partner, Thomas Gagnon Aug. 12, 1946. They made their home in Waverly, where they raised five children.

Yvonne enjoyed needlework, flowers, Saturday night dances, and pie. She gardened and canned thousands of jars of fruits and vegetables. An avid lifelong reader, good books were her constant companions.

She also loved family gatherings, and in her later years, grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her great joy.

Yvonne’s Irish parents bestowed a deep Catholic faith that helped her meet life’s challenges. The rosary and novenas gave her great comfort.

Yvonne is survived by two sons, Gregory, and David (Linda) Gagnon; daughters Elaine (Steve) Bruchman, and Rose (Gary) Wagner; special niece Diane Mahowald; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother–in-law, Martin Gagnon (Carol); sisters-in-law Beatrice Gagnon and Grace Sexton; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husband, Tom; a son, John; a brother, Myron; and her parents, Thomas and Katie Sexton.

Mass of Christian Burial took place Wednesday, April 22 (her 94th birthday), at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, followed by interment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Watertown.

Visitation was Tuesday, April 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church, and continued Wednesday, one hour prior to the Mass.

Arrangements were with the Iten Funeral Home, Delano.

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