Yvonne (Sexton) Gagnon , age 93 of Waverly, passed away April 17, 2015. She was born April 22, 1921, to Thomas and Kathryn (Dugan) Sexton. She grew up at the Sexton family farms in Hollywood Township and later in Woodland Township. Yvonne graduated from Watertown High School in 1940 and from Buffalo Teacher Training School in 1941. She continued her education taking off-campus classes for teacher re-certification for the next 22 years. She taught in one-room country schools in the 1940s, was an original Head Start teacher in the 1960s and later a fourth grade teacher at St. Peter’s Catholic school in Delano. She loved teaching and some of her students became lifelong friends.
On August 12, 1946, Yvonne married her favorite dance partner Thomas Gagnon. They made their home in Waverly where they raised five children. She enjoyed needle work, flowers, Saturday night dances and pie. She gardened and canned thousands of jars of fruits and vegetables. An avid lifelong reader, good books were her constant companions. She loved family gatherings and in her later years grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her great joy. Her Irish parents bestowed a deep Catholic faith that helped her meet life’s challenges. The rosary and novenas gave her great comfort.
Yvonne is survived by sons Gregory and David (Linda) Gagnon; daughters Elaine (Steve) Bruchman and Rose (Gary) Wagner; special niece Diane Mahowald, 9 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, brother–in-law Martin Gagnon (Carol), sisters-in-law Beatrice Gagnon and Grace Sexton; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Tom; son John; brother Myron; parents Thomas and Katie Sexton.
Mass of the Christian Burial 10:30, Wednesday, April 22 (her 94th birthday). Visitation 4-7 p.m Tuesday and one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday, All at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Waverly. Burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Watertown.