Ann C. Gignac
October 5, 1941 — September 18, 2011
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Visitation
Funeral Service
Interment
Ann C. Gignac
Born Ann Forti on October 5 1941, she was the daughter of the late Santo Forti and Ethel Bigney Forti of Malden. She graduated from Malden High School in 1959.She became a Melrose resident in 1971, where she remained throughout her life.
Ann was the devoted wife of the late Gerald D. Gignac, an ironworker and 25-year member of the Local 7, who passed away in 1991. She was the beloved mother of Denise A. Cirillo and her husband Anthony of Sagamore Beach, MA, Leanne E. Gignac of Melrose, Dennis S. Gignac and girlfriend Jennifer Kelly of Melrose, and Deanna G. Wolf and her husband Casey of Peabody. She was the cherished Nana of Devon Wolf, Louis Cirillo, Luke Cirillo, Shea Wolf, Anna Cirillo and Sofie Gignac. She leaves behind four siblings, John and Diane Forti of Tyngsboro, and Ralph and Martha Drinkwater, Nancy Forti, and Doris Forti, all of Malden. She was also the loving sister-in-law of Karen and Tony Zaffiro of Lynn, Earl and Barbara Meehan of Londonderry, NH, Debbie Langlois of Malden and the late Jack Langlois, and Jeff Gignac of Everett.She also leaves several nieces and nephews.
Ann displayed many talents in life, but she perfected domestic routines to an art form. A proficient seamstress, she took enormous pride in creating attire and home décor for her children, grandchildren and friends, all of whom cherished her unique and thoughtful designs. Her children recall that they never wanted for much because their mother's steady hands were always at work, thinking about how to provide and give, never expecting anything in return.
Ann was a widow for over twenty years and she lived life to her fullest, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and lifelong friend Marie Lunn, whom she met years back in a bowling league. She worked in retail, transferring her gifts of design as a 27-year employee in the crafts department at Ames, and, more recently, at Macys where she worked in retail. She took enormous pride as a mother and grandmother, devoting her time as a dance mother and Girl Scout leader in her younger years.
If sewing was a great love, it was only surpassed by her love for her family. Ann would often remark how blessed she was to have four children that were constant sources of pride. The blessing multiplied when she welcomed her six grandchildren into the world, all of whom spent a large amount of time with her. She had a great love for traveling, be it at her summer home in New Hampshire or at family trips to the ocean. Ann was also an avid sports fan, never missing games of her children and grandchildren, even in recent months when her health turned.
Despite struggling with breast cancer, her tireless hands never stopped, because her passion for family and sewing blended so easily, and her heart never stopped loving. She leaves this world a less beautiful place but with lasting reminders of her artistic legacy and eternal devotion to her family.
Funeral Service in honor and remembrance of Anna's life at the First United Methodist Church, 645 Main St., Melrose, Thursday, September 22 at 10 AM.Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.Visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Wednesday from 4-8 PM.Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.
In honor of their beloved mother, the Gignac's will be participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.To support the "Big Annie" team, gifts may be made to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, 6 Perkins St., Peabody, MA 01960.
*************************** Tribute Video **************************
Click on the link below to watch a video created in memory of Ann's life
http://videos.lifetributes.com/MediaViewer2.0/MovieViewer.aspx?id=247601
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To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ann C. Gignac, please visit our flower store.
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
4:00 - 8:00 pm
Robinson Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Starts at 10:00 am
First United Methodist Church
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