Shirley Laughy Gignac, R.N., of Williamsburg, Va., and formerly of Lynnfield, Mass., died suddenly and entered into the hands of God Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017.
Shirley was born in Sanbornton, N.H., and was the sixth child in a family of nine children. She graduated from Franklin High School, New Hampshire, where she met her future husband, Mike, beginning a friendship and marriage that spanned 65 years. Upon graduation from high school, she earned a full scholarship to Lowell Technical Institute. After her freshman year, she decided to pursue her passion for becoming a registered nurse and entered Concord Hospital School of Nursing in New Hampshire, where she graduated three years later, first in her class. She worked at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., and Shaughnessy Hospital in Salem, Mass., followed by several long-term, private-duty cases in the Boston North Shore area.
She leaves her devoted husband of 57 years, G. Michael Jr.; four sons, J. Paul of Santa Barbara, Calif., G. Michael III of Monson, Mass., J. Peter and Christi of Franconia, N.H., and the Rev. J. Thomas of Duxbury, Mass.; five grandchildren, Brittany and Brooke Gignac of California, Cassidy St. Germain-Gignac of Massachusetts, and Avery and Braden Gignac of New Hamshire; and two daughters-in-law, Renee Dutt of California and Mary Elizabeth St. Germain of Massachusetts.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Edward Jr. and Verona M. Jackson Laughy; brothers, Harry and Herald Laughy; sisters, Dorothy Tibbetts and Helen Sapp; and sister-in-law, Tamar Gignac.
She leaves her brother, Alan Laughy of New Hamsphire; and sisters, Jean Pauquette of New Hampshire and Eileen Champoux of Arizona; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John and Joanne Gignac of Virginia, Frederick Gignac of New Hampshire and Carol and Andrew Bergeron of California; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
First and foremost, she enjoyed being the mother of her four sons and the wife of her beloved husband. She enjoyed a lifelong passion for nursing care. Among her many interests were sewing, cooking, reading and writing poetry, travel, and establishing deep and lasting relationships with her dear friends.
Visiting hours will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Nelsen Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 7, at St. Olaf, Patron of Norway Catholic Church, Williamsburg. Additional visiting hours at Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, Mass., will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, followed by procession to Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody, Mass., at 11 a.m. for Christian burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Olaf, Patron of Norway Catholic Church, 104 Norge Lane, Williamsburg, VA 23188.
Share online condolences with the family at nelsenwilliamsburg.com.
