Obituary of Eva (Maillet) Gagnon

Eva (Maillet) Gagnon, 99, of Peabody and formerly of Salem, died peacefully Sunday morning at the Peabody Glen Nursing Home following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late Rene J. Gagnon. Born in Ashburnham, MA, she was the daughter of the late James and Euphimie (Landry) Maillet. She was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School, class of 1926. She has lived in Peabody for the past 52 years. She worked as a waitress for over 30 years at the former Rizzo Spaghetti Place in Salem, and for 15 years, at the Clam Shell in Peabody. Eva was a member of the Veteran of Foreign War Fidelity Post 1011 Ladies Auxiliary, past president of Golden Age Club from 1994 - 1996, past officer of the Ladies A.O.H. Division 11 in Peabody. She also was a member of Golden Agers Club and for 25 years served as coordinator for all of their trips. For her services to the Golden Agers, Eva was recognized by the city of Peabdy and Mayor Michael J. Bonfanti,and was presented with the Certificate of Community Excellence for her outstanding service on October 5, 2005. She also attended the Peabody Council on Aging and enjoyed doing arts and crafts, bowling and traveling. Because of Eva's She is survived by a son Robert Gagnon of Danvers, four daughters, M. Viola Elkhay of Warwick, RI. Phyllis “Jackie” and her husband Robert Ball of Lynn, Carol and her husband Gene Staid of Peabody, Patricia Varney of Groveland, a sister, Laura Lauranzano of Beverly, she is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Gagnon of Danvers, a son-in-law, Richard Howard of Peabody, and is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Rene J. Gagnon and Lorraine Howard, mother-in-law of the late Richard Varney, and William Elkhay, sister of the late Edgar Maillet, Edith Maki, Emelda MacCracken and Hermance “Mickie” Spottiswood, grandmother of the late Lisa Noyes and great grandmother of the late Amanda Jellison, and Ross and Elijah Elkhay. Her funeral service will be held on Friday at 10:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Peabody Facility, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM in St. John’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Burial in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Danvers. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the Peabody Council on Aging, 77 Central St., Peabody, MA 01960.