Obituary of Ann (Brennan) Champagne

PEABODY - Ann (Brennan) Champagne, 89, beloved wife of Thomas W. Champagne, died Thursday morning April 2, 2009 at the North Shore Medical Center Salem Hospital. Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Anna (Brawders) Brennan. She lived there in her youth, and graduated from Salem High School, Class of 1936. Mrs. Champagne worked at the Danvers Bleachery before having children, and after the family grew up she was an Administrative Aide at Peabody High School for many years. Ann was a communicant at St. John the Baptist Church in Peabody for many years, volunteered at Polls for elections with the City of Peabody, and wrote a weekly column at the Salem News. She will be remembered fondly for her nurturing family and the devotion and caring of family values that she passed on to her children, grandchildren and cherished friends. She is survived by: her husband, Thomas W. Champagne of Peabody; three daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn & William Laakso of Newburyport, Nancy & James Maney of Peabody, and Kim & Charles Dolan of Burlington; 10 grandchildren, Keith Champagne of Amesbury, Kelly Murray of Lynnfield, Erik Laakso of Dover, NH, Kurt Laakso of Palatine, IL, Daniel Doherty of Largo, FL, Lori Maney of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Sean Maney of Rowley, Michael Dolan, Colleen Dolan and Jennifer Dolan all of Burlington, nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Marjorie Wolfenden of North Andover, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, William P. Champagne, sisters Kathryn Quinlan, Mary Calley, Josephine Keith, Ruth Labbe, and a cousin, Kay Dunleavy. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 4 to 7 P.M. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are invited to gather on Monday morning at 10 AM from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM in St. John's Church, Peabody. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Memorial donations may be made to North Shore Elder Services, 152 Sylvan St. Danvers, MA 01923 or to Resident Council Fund, Grosvenor Park Nursing Center, 7 Loring Hills Ave., Salem, MA 01970.