Obituary of Rita Cyr Gagnon

Rita Cyr Gagnon, 85, of Glastonbury, Connecticut passed away on Friday, July 31, 2015 at home from complications of Parkinson’s. She was the daughter of the late Rhoda (Rabida) and Leonce Cyr. She was born on July 9, 1930 in Greensboro, Vermont. On October 13, 1951, she married Richard Gagnon and began their life together in Manchester, Connecticut. They later built a home in Glastonbury where they raised their four children. Rita was the Transportation Supervisor for the Town of Glastonbury for many years and it was a job that she was extremely passionate about. She loved children, so she spent a lot of time in the community tending to the needs of Glastonbury’s children----working through problems and making sure they all arrived safely home. Her bus drivers were more than employees to her-----she considered them her extended family. She loved them, and they loved her. As a devoted mother and grandmother, her needs always came last. Her favorite times were spent on the floor playing with her grandchildren. She leaves behind her four children—Yvonne Leger of East Hartford, Maurice Gagnon and his wife Leslie of Glastonbury, Paul Gagnon of East Hartford and John Gagnon and his wife Sherri of Griswold. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Richard Gagnon, her sisters, Cecile Jennings and Gertrude Fontaine as well as her son-in-law, Paul Leger. The family would like to express a sincere appreciation to Carlene Rowe who was her full-time caregiver for the past two years. Her caring and love helped to keep our mother in her own home until she passed away. Funeral will be Wednesday Aug. 5 at 9:45am from the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, to Our Lady of Peace Church, East Hartford for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Glastonbury. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday Aug. 4 from 5-8pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741-5014. For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.