Lorraine F. Bragan

Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt;

Lorraine "The Nana" (Gagnon) (Bell) Bragan, 98, of Lowell, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at home surrounded by her loving family.

She was the wife of the late John S. Bragan and the late James R. Bell.

Born in Lowell, MA, July 21, 1927, the daughter of the late James W. and the late Catherine (Beecher) Gagnon, she attended Lowell schools and graduated from Lowell High School in the class of 1946.

After high school, Lorraine attended the Greater Lowell Vocational School and earned a nursing license. She worked for the Bedford VA Hospital for over 17 years before retirement.

Lorraine truly left a legacy and touched the lives of so many around her. She left a positive impression on everyone she met. She was a devout Catholic, a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church and a member of the Catholic Women's Guild. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and loved the theatre. She loved and adored her family; she enjoyed spending her summers surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in Seabrook Beach, Newport, and North Conway. And she was a jet setter, taking trips to Bermuda, Medugorje, Italy, Ireland and more. Even with her busy schedule, she always viewed her house as her "Castle" where the family gathered for special occasions, holidays, celebrations, and quick visits.

She is survived by five children, Mickey Bell and his wife JoAnn of Pelham, NH, Maureen Antifonario and her husband Carl of Naples, FL, Terrence Bell and his wife Diane of Lowell, MA, Bridget Bell of Atkinson, NH, and Maryann Morgan of Lowell, MA; twenty grandchildren; thirty five great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Viola Bragan of Nashua, NH; a daughter-in-law, Donna Cochrane of Dracut, MA and many nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was the mother of the late Patricia Dubois, Timothy C. Bell, and James R. Bell, II, and the sister of the late James J. Gagnon and Donald P. Gagnon.

Friends may call on Monday, December 22, 2025, at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL, MA from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Her Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Immaculate Conception Church at 12:00 NOON, followed by her Committal Services at St. Mary's Cemetery in Tewksbury, MA. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing, may make contributions in her memory to Immaculate Conception Church at iclowell.org or 3 Fayette Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, 01852. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O'Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.