Online Obituaries

Rita M. (Gagnon) Gosselin, 100, died on Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Wingate at East Longmeadow. Rita was born on February 24, 1917 in the Fairview section of Chicopee and was the daughter of the late Arthur J. and Juliette (Lacroix) Gagnon. She worked at F. W. Sickles Corp. and was an assembler at Rexnord Corp. before her retirement. She worshiped at Holy Name of Jesus Church, was a former communicant of St. George Church and a member of the St. Anne’s Sodality. Rita loved playing bingo, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards and philanthropy. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Rita brought much joy to anyone around her. She was most happy surrounded by her family. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, Alvin A. Gosselin, who died in 1978, step-mother, Anna (Buss) Gagnon and all her brothers and sisters: Leon Gagnon, Walter Gagnon, Rheo Gagnon, Robert Gagnon, Norman Gagnon, Leona Kleeberg, Isabelle Pease, Betty Fales, and Ann Bednarz. Rita is survived by her three children, Alvin Gosselin Jr. and his wife, Sharon of SC, JoAnne Constance of Wilbraham and Marianne Stasiowski and her husband, Jim of Chicopee and two grandchildren, Jason and Julianne Stasiowski. The highlight of her life, at age 72, was becoming a grandmother. Rita also leaves many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Mercy Hospice, the staff at Wingate at East Longmeadow and Porchlight Home Care for their care and support. Special thanks to her nephew, George Gosselin and his wife, Gwen for their spiritual support in bringing her communion and praying with her. The funeral for Rita will be held on Monday, July 10, 2017 from the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home at 69 East St. in Chicopee Falls, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Patrick’s Church, 319 Broadway in Chicopee at 11 am. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. An hour of visitation will be held on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 am prior to church. Please make donations to your favorite charity or Rita’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place. Memphis, TN 38105-1905.