Nicole Lucier Gagné, age 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Our Lady of Providence in Winooski, Vt.
Born on May 15, 1936, in St. Jacques le-Mineur, Québec, she was the daughter of the late Cecille and Jean-Paul Lucier. Nicole lived a life defined by devotion to her family, a sharp wit and a generous heart.
For 59 years, she was the beloved wife of the late Marcel Gagné, with whom she built a beautiful life filled with love, laughter and shared adventures. After beginning their family in Champlain, N.Y., Marcel and Nicole made their home in Essex Center, Vt., where they raised their three sons and created a lifetime of treasured memories. Their neighborhood became much more than a place to live; many of their neighbors became lifelong friends and an extension of their family. Together, they were active supporters of the Boy Scouts of America and fostered a warm and welcoming home where family, friendship and community were always at the heart of daily life.
Outside the home, Nicole enjoyed working at the Ben Franklin store and in the Essex Town school hot lunch program. As her family grew, she embraced what would become her most treasured role: grandmother and great-grandmother. She was the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren: Matthew (Agnieszka), Nicholas (Olivia Gifford), Allison (Pete Elliot), Alyssa Pizzuti (Nick), Bryan (Rachel Kennedy), Brigitte and Joseph (Aliana); and the great-grandmother of 10 (Simon, Caroline, Malcolm, Eloise, Josie, Nolan, Juniper, Marigold, Ruth and Harriet) — with an 11th great-grandchild expected next month, a continuation of the legacy she leaves behind. She never missed a birthday, loved family gatherings and holidays, and instilled in her family the importance of staying close.
She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, JJ Paul (Peg), Robert (Mary) and Ronald; her seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Celine Lucier; and brother Andre and his wife, Therese. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marcel Gagné; her sister Carmen Derome; and her brother Claude Lucier.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. Mass, at the St. Pius X Church, Essex Center, Vt. Burial will be immediately following Mass at Holy Family Cemetery, Essex, Vt.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Providence, 47 W. Spring St., Winooski, VT 05404, or University of Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.