Dawn Marie (Daigle) Gagnon

Dawn Marie (Daigle) Gagnon

St. Agatha, ME

 

ST. AGATHA – Dawn Marie (Daigle) Gagnon, 59, of St. Agatha passed away

sleeping peacefully at her home on the evening of August 3, 2023, following a

three-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born in Hartford, CT on

March 22, 1964, to Donald and Rachel (Dufour) Daigle but returned to Maine as

an infant, graduating from Wisdom High School in 1982.

Dawn had many interests, but it was her passion for writing that led to a lifelong

career in journalism. It began in high school where she authored the column

Words of Wisdom for the St.  John Valley Times.  After studying Journalism at the

University of Maine, Dawn’s first job as a reporter was coincidentally for the

Times. In 1989, Dawn began her next reporting job with the Bangor Daily News

where until 2017, she chased stories about crime and punishment, city politics,

missing  people, the state's heritage… and beauty pageants! Dawn had a special

way of making people feel comfortable, open-up and tell their stories, gaining her

recognition from both the Maine and the New England Press Associations.

In 2018, Dawn shifted gears and took a job with WVII, FOX ABC Maine, still in the

news world, but in more of a behind the scenes capacity. In the spring of 2022,

Dawn left WVII and returned to St. Agatha, giving her the opportunity to spend

some quality time with her father until his death in November. While here, Dawn

worked part-time as a cook at Country Village Estates in Madawaska until her

diagnosis in May.

While Dawn was an award-winning reporter, writing stories about others for most

of her life, there are stories about Dawn that should be told, too; some happy, like

getting married and raising a family; some sad, like the death of her child; but the

best are the embarrassing ones that parents like to tell every chance they get.

Like the time she made “cement patties” and left them to dry on the seat of

pepere’s  Ski-Doo, or the time she filled the well with rocks because of the cool

sound that echoed up the pipe when they hit the water. Dawn had an accomplice,

of course, but as a journalist would understand that sometimes the source must

remain confidential.

Dawn is survived by her beloved son Isaac Gagnon and partner Shelly, of

Madawaska, and Ike’s son,  Benjamin, her very favorite grandson. She was

predeceased by her eldest son, Jacob Gagnon, of Van Buren; father, Donald

Daigle, of St. Agatha; and companion of many years, James Jordan Jr., of Bangor.

Dawn is also survived by her mother, Rachel Daigle, and brother, Peter Daigle,

both of St. Agatha; sister Renee Dugal and husband, Louis, of Madawaska; and ex-

husband, Ricky Gagnon, and his large extended family, of Van Buren, with whom

she remained close and considered great friends.

Dawn is also survived by her aunts and uncles, Michael and Doreen Daigle;

Roberta Guerrette and companion, Conrad Cyr, all of St. Agatha; David and

Marcia Zai; Susan Dubey, of North Carolina; and Jacqueline Bard, of South

Portland; and numerous cousins,  nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by

aunt and uncles, Ronald Guerrette; Philip Bard; and Lawrence and Claudette

Audibert,   of Fort Kent.

As Dawn became weaker in recent weeks, a day out with the girls, Debbie, Lisa,

Paula, Stella, and Terry really helped boost her spirits.

The family would like to thank Jenna, Karee, Lynn, Karen, Missy, Molly and the

rest of the staff of Northern Light Home Care & Hospice for their help and

support; and especially Dawn’s former co-worker and best friend Nit-Noi Ricker,

of Hampden, who travelled to St. Agatha and spent the last two weeks of Dawn’s

life assisting the family and keeping her feel loved and comfortable.

At Dawn’s request, there will be no public services.  A private memorial in her

honor  will be held at a later date. Donations to honor Dawn may be sent to the

Pioneer Educational Foundation, PO Box 51, St. Agatha, ME 04772.

To share condolences and memories online, please visit:

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