Joan Marie Gagnon

"Belchertown - Joan Marie (Hoar) Gagnon, age 82, died peacefully with her family at her side on February 16 2018, in Leeds, Massachusetts. Joan is survived by her high school sweetheart, soul mate and husband Gilles A. Gagnon who together celebrated 62 years of marriage. Her children and their spouses are Paul & Sue, of Westminster, Colorado; Joe & Margie of Belchertown, Bob & Carrie of Framingham, and Doreen & Ray Cook of Purcellville, Virginia. Joan is survived by her brothers Paul Horne, his wife Jean of Holyoke and Fr. Leo James Hoar, and many beloved nieces and nephews of both the Gagnon and Hoar clans. Joan was Nana to her six grandchildren; Nick and his wife Emily, Jen and her husband LeRoy III, Michelle, Michael, Caitlin and Joey. Joan was Great Nana to her four great grandchildren; LeRoy IV, Mia, Brayden and Emilianna, “her little ones”. Joan is preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Sullivan (Hoar) of Amherst Massachusetts and her parents, Helen (Sullivan) Hoar and John Thomas Hoar of Holyoke, Massachusetts and southwestern Ireland. Joan was born on August 20, 1935 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Joan worked as one of the original Title 1 aides for Chicopee Public Schools for twenty years. Joan resided and raised her family in Chicopee for thirty years before moving to Belchertown for twenty years and then to Leeds Massachusetts in her final days. Joan was a parishioner of Saint Mary’s in Chicopee and then Saint Francis Catholic in Belchertown. Joan was an avid camper spending most summer vacations with family at Hampton Beach, N.H.. In retirement Joan loved her winter trips to Walt Disney World, staying in pool homes with Gill and the family. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday February 22nd at 10:00 a.m. at St Francis of Assisi church in Belchertown. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home for 9:00 a.m. to follow to church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joan’s life. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Jerome cemetery in Holyoke. Calling hours are Wednesday February 21st from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation at www.melanomaprevention.org. For more information please visit www.beersandstory.com"