Germaine C. (Daigneault) Fagnant, 90, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Sunday morning, December 28, 2025. She was the wife of the late Ronald A. Fagnant who passed away in 2005. Born and raised in Sheridan Circle, Chicopee, she was the daughter of the late Charles Edward and Cecilia (Morrisette) Daigneault. Germaine attended parochial schools and graduated valedictorian from Precious Blood High School in Holyoke, MA. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald, in 1957.
In 1959, Ronald and Germaine moved to Main Street in Townsend with two small children. They eventually relocated to nearby Brookline Street, where they resided for many years and raised their six children. In the 22 years they lived in Townsend, both Ronald and Germaine were active and dedicated members of their community, especially at St. John’s Parish. They served on many committees throughout the years, most notably running the annual Parish Bazaar. Germaine also worked at the parish rectory for years, serving the priests, lovingly caring for the altar linens, and polishing holy objects.
Germaine and Ronald’s marriage was a cornerstone of their life and their devotion to each other was apparent to all. They were members of the Townsend Community Couples Club, enjoying many fun and civic activities as they formed deep friendships and served their community. They were also deeply blessed by their involvement in Marriage Encounter, where they shared their faith and personal experience of marriage with couples locally and nationally.
After leaving Townsend, Germaine and Ronald spent 10 years in Medway, MA and attended St. Joseph’s Parish before they moved to Leominster in 1993. There they immediately found their community at Our Lady of the Lake, where they were very involved as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and many various committees and activities. Germaine was deeply proud of her church, and invited all to participate in it with her. When Ronald passed too early due to cancer in 2005, that community and her family were her strongholds.
For all her involvement with her communities over the years, Germaine’s true vocation was raising her family. She was a servant leader, fiercely dedicated and ready to provide whatever she could - most notably knitted slippers and unending prayers. Any questions directed to her nearly invariably turned into humble boasts of her 6 children, 18 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. Watching them grow, succeed, and make the most out of life was her deepest joy.
In 2021, Germaine moved to Youville Place in Lexington to be closer to her family and enjoy community. She was especially grateful to be able to attend daily mass there.
She was blessed to spend her final months in Reading where she was graciously welcomed into the extended Lucey family home to be loved and cared for by family and beautiful caregivers, Esterlin, Bianela, Candi and Kiara.
Germaine is survived by her children: David E. Fagnant and his wife Barbara of Limington, ME, Thomas A. Fagnant of Lawrence, MA, Gerard A. Fagnant and his wife Renee of Jaffrey, NH, Marie C. Lucey and her husband Michael of Reading, MA, Susan Patry and her wife Leslie of Newton, NC, and Deborah A. Cockerill and her husband John of Mont Vernon, NH. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her late husband Ronald, Germaine is preceded in death by two brothers, the late Roland Daigneault and the late Teddy Daigneault, her sister the late Marguerite Machia, and two granddaughters the late Erin and Jessica Lucey. Calling hours will be at the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home (25 Sanborn St., Reading, MA), on Monday, January 5, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 1400 Main Street, Leominster, MA, 01453 with interment immediately following at St. Leo Cemetery in Leominster. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Germaine’s memory may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Church.www.ourlady.org
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