Shirley L. Gignac

Shirley (Laughy) Gignac, RN of Williamsburg, VA, formerly of Lynnfield, MA died suddenly and entered into the hands of God on December 3, 2017. Shirley was born in Sanbornton, NH and was the sixth child in a family of nine children. She graduated from Franklin (NH) High School 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 (NH) Hospital School of Nursing, where she graduated three years later, first in her class. She worked at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY and Shaughnessy Hospital in Salem, MA, 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.; her four sons, J. Paul of Santa Barbara, CA, G. Michael III of Monson, MA, J. Peter and Christi of Franconia, NH, and Rev. J. Thomas of Duxbury, MA; her five grandchildren, Brittany and Brooke Gignac (CA), Cassidy St. Germain-Gignac (MA), and Avery and Braden Gignac (NH); and two daughters-in-law Renee Dutt (CA) and Mary Elizabeth St. Germain (MA). She was predeceased by her parents James Edward, Jr. and Verona M. (Jackson) Laughy, brothers Harry and Herald Laughy, sisters Dorothy Tibbetts and Helen Sapp, and her sister-in-law Tamar Gignac. She leaves her brother Alan Laughy (NH), and sisters Jean Pauquette (NH) and Eileen Champoux (AZ). In addition, she leaves her brothers- and sisters-in-law, John and Joanne Gignac (VA), Frederick Gignac (NH), and Carol and Andrew Bergeron (CA), as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. She enjoyed first and foremost being the mother of her four sons and the wife of her beloved husband, and her 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 at Nelsen Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 6 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Olaf, Patron of Norway Catholic Church, Williamsburg, VA on Thursday, December 7 at 10:00 am. Additional visiting hours at Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, MA on Tuesday, December 12 at 10:00 am, followed by procession to Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody, MA at 11:00 am 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.