PATRICIA ANNE GAGNE

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PATRICIA ANNE GAGNE "True happiness does not come from possessions or fame: it comes from the quality of your relationships with the people you love and respect." Suddenly, on October 5, 2001, at age 62, Patricia Anne Gagne, while on vacation in New Brunswick. She will be lovingly remembered by her beloved husband, Tony Gagne; her mother Stella (late Stanley Copp) by her children, Michel (Ann), Jocelyne (Francois), Stella (Carmelite), Jean-Paul (Carole) and Pascal (Colette) and her grandchildren, Erica, Daniel, Simon, Sarah, Kateri, Janique, Chloe, Ariane and Nathan. She also will be sadly missed by her brothers, Walter (Joyce), Stanley (Sally) and Grant Copp; and by her sister Debbie Kuzina (Terry) and also by her many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and numerous friends and colleagues. Patricia was born in Winnipeg on September 30, 1939. A graduate of St. Marys Academy in 1957, she went on to Manitoba Teachers College where she met Tony Gagne in 1958. She was 20 when they married on November 14, 1959. In 1962, they moved to Fort Smith, NWT, with their two young children, Michel and Jocelyne. During the five years that followed, Stella-Marie and Jean-Paul were born. Pat and Tony and their young family spent the next year in Edmonton, before going on their great adventure to Senegal, West Africa, in 1967. Their fifth child, Pascal, was born there in 1969. The next destination was Winnipeg in 1973 where the family made their permanent home. Pat was the manager of Copps Merchandising for 10 years. She returned to university and graduated with a B.Ed in 1985. She began her teaching career in the River East School Division. But they were on the move again. From 1989 to 1991, Pat and Tony lived and taught in Hong Kong. Upon their return, Pat continued to teach until she joined Tony in retirement in 1997. During the following years, as her spiritual faith deepened, Pat wrote short stories, painted and spent time looking after her children and grandchildren. She and Tony enjoyed travelling throughout Canada and the United States together to be with their family who will miss her dearly. Pat, Mom, Grand-Maman, time will never let us forget the love and generosity that you surrounded us with. It is hard to say goodbye, but we take comfort in the idea that there were no regrets, and that you left us at one of the happiest and fulfilling times of your life. Your incredible sense of adventure and insatiable zest for life and people have inspired us profoundly. You really gave us the courage and strength to follow your dream and to be true to yourself. Goodbye Mom, we love you. Many thanks to Auberge de la Baie and also to Father David Furguson, Edgar McGraw, Adelard Clement, Dr Lise Dugas (M.D.), Alain Tremblay (RCMP) and Sonia, all of Caraquet, NB. The family will be accepting condolences on Tuesday, October 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in the Desjardins Funeral Chapel, at 357 Des Meurons, in Saint-Boniface. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Timothys Roman Catholic Church, 135 John Forsyth, in Saint-Vital. Burial will follow at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, in Narol (5819 Henderson Hwy.). As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Pats memory to: Missionaries of Charity, 356 Pritchard, Winnipeg, R2W 2J6 or to the Associates of the Grey Nuns, 151 Despins St., Winnipeg, R2H 0L7. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements 233-4949; toll free 1-888-233-4949. PATRICIA ANNE GAGNE "Le veritable bonheur ne vient ni de la gloire ni des possessions, mais plutot de la qualite de nos relations avec les gens que nous aimons et respectons." Le 5 octobre 2001, est decedee subitement, a lage de 62 ans, Patricia Anne Gagne, epouse adoree dAntoine Gagne, de Winnipeg (Manitoba) pendant des vacances au Nouveau-Brunswick. En plus de son mari, elle laisse dans la plus profonde tristesse sa mere, Stella Copp (feu Stanley Copp) ses enfants, Michel (Ann), Jocelyne (Francois), Stella (Carmelite), Jean-Paul (Carole) et Pascal (Colette) ainsi que ses petits-enfants, Erica, Daniel, Simon, Sarah, Kateri, Janique, Chloe, Ariane et Nathan. Elle laisse aussi dans le deuil sa soeur, Debbie Kuzina (Terry), et ses freres, Walter (Joyce), Stanley (Sally) et Grant Copp, ainsi que plusieurs neveux et nieces, oncles et tantes, beaux-freres et belles-soeurs, et une multitude damis et anciens collegues. Pat est nee a Winnipeg, le 30 septembre 1939. Apres avoir obtenu son diplome a St. Marys Academy en 1957, elle a frequente le Manitoba Teachers College, ou elle a rencontre Antoine Gagne en 1958. Elle sest mariee le 14 novembre 1959, a lage de 20 ans. En 1962, elle a demenage avec sa famille a Fort Smith aux T.N.-O. avec leurs deux enfants, Michel et Jocelyne. Au cours des cinq annees qui ont suivi, Stella-Marie et Jean-Paul sont nes. Pat et Antoine et leur jeune famille ont passe la prochaine annee a Edmonton, avant dentreprendre leur grande aventure au Senegal, en Afrique, en 1967. Cest la quest ne Pascal, leur cinquieme enfant, en 1969. De retour a Winnipeg en 1973, la famille sy est installee de facon permanente. Pat etait la gerante de Copps Merchandising pendant une dizaine dannee. Elle est retournee aux etudes et a obtenu un B.Ed. en 1985. Elle a entrepris sa carriere denseignante dans la Division scolaire de River East. Mais cetait le temps de repartir. De 1989 a 1991, Pat et Tony ont vecu et enseigne a Hong Kong. A leur retour, Pat a continue denseigner jusqua sa retraite en 1997. Pendant les annees qui ont suivi, alors que sa vie spirituelle devenait plus profonde, Pat sest decouverte une ame dartiste et decrivaine et sest occupee de ses enfants et petits enfants. Elle a egalement voyage un peu partout au Canada et aux Etats-Unis en compagnie de son mari. Tres chere Pat, Mom et Grand-Maman, le temps ne pourra jamais effacer lamour, la generosite et la joie dont tu nous as entoures. Cest difficile de te laisser partir, mais nous savons que tu nous quittes sereine, lame en paix, et que ta douce presence se fera sentir parmi nous pour toujours. Tu etais animee dun sens de laventure hors du commun et dun profond attachement a ta famille et a ce qui est beau et grand dans la vie, et tu nous as insuffle le courage daller jusquau bout de nos reves. Tu nous quittes a un moment ou tu etais comblee, et tes nombreux talents etaient pour nous, et le seront pour toujours, une source de profonde inspiration. Nous taimons. Nous tenons a remercier le personnel de lAuberge de la Baie, le pere David Furguson ainsi que Edgar McGraw, Adelard Clement, Dr Lise Dugas (M. D.), Alain Tremblay (GRC) et Sonia, tous de Caraquet, au Nouveau-Brunswick. (continued next column)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 09, 2001