Obituary: Alfred J. Gagnon, Leather Worker; Member of the VFW Post 1524 and the Moose Lodge in Salem

Obituary from Berube & Sons Funeral Home.

Alfred J. Gagnon, 91, of Salem, passed away Friday, January 9, 2015 surrounded by his family at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was the husband of the late Laura (Landry) Gagnon.

Alfred was born in Canada and lived in Salem for most of his life. A U.S. Army WW2 Veteran, Alfred served honorably in the Normandy Invasion, and the Northern France, Rhineland, and Central European Campaigns where his unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Fourragere Croix de Guerre, and the Cross de Lorraine Medal. Alfred was also awarded the American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the Victory Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon. Returning home, Alfred worked for many years as a leather worker with A.C. Lawrence and with Carr Leather in Lynn and later worked at Crosby’s in Salem until 2006 when he was 84 years old. He was a member of the VFW Post 1524 and the Moose Lodge in Salem, and enjoyed spending time at the Salem Senior Center. Most of all, Alfred loved being with his family who he was always proud of.

Surviving him are one son, Paul Gagnon and his wife Joanne of Danvers; two daughters, Vanessa Bethune and her husband Earl of Goffstown, NH, and Lisa Cole and her husband Randy of Danvers; 6 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Irene Sandoval of Jacksonville, FL, and Rachel Gaudet of Beverly, and his brother Donald Gagnon of Kedgewick, N.B. Canada, and several nieces and nephews.

Along with his wife, Laura, Alfred was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Bridget (Gallant) Gagnon, his sister, Cecile Hughes, and his brother Roger Gagnon.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours in the Berube & Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St. (Rt.1A/114) Salem, on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and to Funeral Services on Thursday in the Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Alfred’s name to the Salem Senior Center, 5 Broad St. Salem, MA 01970. Directions and guestbook available at www.BerubeFuneralHome.com.