Maria Gagnon Sans-Cartier

Maria Gagnon Sans-Cartier passed away on June 25, 2015 at 102. She was a long time resident of Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jaffrey, NH. Maria was born in 1912, the 11th child and 5th daughter of Marie Louise Arcand and Louis Gagnon of Lowell, Mass. There were 17 children in her family; 4 died in infancy and she outlived all of her siblings. As a young woman in Lowell, Maria worked in the Woolen Mills for ten years. Her greatest interest was singing. She was a renounced coloratura soprano in Lowell; was a member of the Folkloristes Franco-American Musical Comedy Troupe, whose musical director, Laurier Sans-Cartier became her husband. They had been married for 36 years when he died in 1976. She was also an accomplished pianist. At 4 foot 11 inches, she was a feisty little French woman as the staff of Good Shepherd will attest to! The family wishes to thank the dedicated staff of Good Shepherd for the care and love they shared with Maria. She was extremely hard of hearing, could only see shadows, but seemed to know who was there. She had an active imagination, would start speaking in French, would realize no one understood, and switched to English. She would hear music in her head and try to sing. She was loved and will be missed by all. Maria is survived by her daughter, Suzanne O’Brien of New Ipswich; two granddaughters, Kathleen Smith and Eileen Beaven, both of Jaffrey; five great grandchildren, Kelsey, Alysha and Ryan Smith , Taylor and Delaney Beaven, all of Jaffrey and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends are warmly invited to calling hours on Thursday July 2, 2015, from 10:00am to 12;00 noon at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Rte. 202) in Jaffrey NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place immediately following calling hours at 12:00 Noon in St. Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey. Rev. Wilfred H. Deschamps, pastor, will officiate. Burial at the convenience of the family will be in the family lot at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Somersworth, NH. http://thetributecenter.com/tributeplayer/default.aspx?webcasteventid=9861#/webcast