Jienette Gagne

HIGHGATE - Jienette C. Gagne, age 83, passed away on Monday, June 10, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at her home in Highgate.

She was born in East Highgate on March 22, 1941 to the late Romeo Sr. & Alberta Gagne.

Jienette grew up and attended school in Highgate, she was a graduate of Highgate High School class of 1959. She married the love of her life Marcel on October 10, 1959. They worked a small dairy farm in East Highgate where they settled down and raised four children. In 1965, the farm was converted from dairy to poultry, they had 10,000 hens. As true entrepreneurs, Jienette & Marcel turned their love for camping and travel into a business. They owned and operated Champlain Valley Campground in Swanton for nearly 20 years. She also owned her business Bears and Things, which could be found at local craft fairs for 25 years.

She was a member of St. Louis Parish and the Ladies of St. Anne for many years. Jienette was very talented and enjoyed sewing, knitting, scrap booking, making greeting cards, and being part of the local home dem group for many years. She also enjoyed gardening and canned many of her own vegetables, and homemade preserves, over the years. Each year, she would make 30-40 wreaths by hand to give away to her family and friends. These were made with Princess Pine she and her children would pick in the woods. She would also donate mittens she made to the Highgate School and Food Shelf, she made over 200 pair one year.

In 1973, Jienette & Marcel started traveling to Florida in their first motorhome. Nearly every year after they made a trip down south for a few weeks, and longer in retirement. At the age of 51, Jienette was diagnosed with breast cancer, which later metastasized to her bones. She fought a long and courageous battle and was part of an experimental treatment plan. She took everything in stride and her response was "Somebody has to do it, I have girls and granddaughters"

She is survived by her children, Annette Roach and her husband Pete of Highgate, and Angel Gingras and her husband Todd of Highgate; daughter-in-law, Brenda Gagne of Bakersfield; ten grandchildren, Robert Roach and his wife Joyce, Daniel Roach, Corey Roach and his wife Kyla, Jennifer Roach and her husband Javan Welch, Whitney Bates and her husband Josh, Travis Gingras and his wife Desiree, Dillon Gingras and his significant other Liz, Dakota Gagne and his wife Taylor, Riley Gagne, and Cheyanne Gagne and her significant other Thomas; 7 great grandchildren; siblings, Adrienne Perrino, Georgette Roddy, Daniel Gagne and his wife Cindy, Marie Maskell, and Michael Gagne and his wife Sylvia; sister-in-law, Linda Gagne; and many siblings-in-law, nieces & nephews. In addition to her parents, Jienette was predeceased by her husband, Marcel Gagne; sons, Stephen Gagne, and Keith Gagne; brothers, Romeo Gagne and his wife Agnes, and Allen Gagne; and brothers-in-law, Peter Perrino, David Roddy, and Mike Maskell.

Family and friends are invited to Jienette's life celebration to include visitation on Friday, June 14, 2024 from 4-6:00 PM at the Goss Life Celebration Home, 89 Grand Avenue, Swanton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Louis Catholic Church, Lamkin Street, Highgate. Interment will follow in St. Louis Catholic Cemetery in Highgate.

For those who wish, contributions in Jienette's memory may be made to the ALS Association Northeast, 1300 Wilson Blvd Suite 600 Arlington VA 22209 or Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, 77 Sunset View Road, South Hero, VT 05486.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com