Agnes L. Gagnon

Rensselaer – Gagnon, Agnes L., age 83, of Rensselaer, New York, died Saturday, April 25, 2020, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy of the Coronavirus.  Daughter of the late John Mahoney and Rachel Jones, she was born in Albany, New York.  After graduating from Columbia High School in East Greenbush, Aggie joined the Army.  She remained a proud veteran.   Back at home, she became a fixture at Anchor Insurance Agency where she was employed for 47 years.  She was well respected in the insurance community for her ability to process claims. Aggie was a genuine “people person”, warm, fun-loving and full of life, who enjoyed being where the action was.  When swimming at Mercy Villa on Crooked Lake, she was usually the last one out of the water.  If folks were playing board games, Aggie was part of the group that was just a bit more enthusiastic than the others.  She delighted in her two trips to Ireland and in the many friends she made, and eagerly anticipated her annual vacations in York Beach, Maine, which always included a stop at Nubble Light.    Aggie treasured being a Mercy Associate.  She assumed a leadership role in the group, serving as the Director of the Albany Sisters of Mercy Associates for 2 years.  An active parishioner of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas, Aggie’s faith was evident in her sensitivity to people in need and in her compassionate response to them.  She always had time to listen to peoples’ stories.  She loved and accepted people for who they were and was nonjudgmental.   Aggie was an active member of the Colonie Seniors and enjoyed playing Bingo with her friends at Beltrone.  She seldom missed a Notre Dame football game or her one soap opera.  She even followed a few cooking shows although she seldom cooked.  Aggie was a gift to many people; she will be greatly missed.   The thirteenth of thirteen children, Aggie was predeceased by her twelve siblings: Harry Morton, Ernest Morton, John Miller, Gerald Mahoney, Donald Mahoney, Robert Mahoney, Thomas Steele, George Steele, Kathleen Levitt, Rose Kunsman, Marguerite Deuel and Dolores Nolan.  She is survived by her son, Renald (Tammy), daughter, Denise Hecker (late Albert), and grandchildren, Molly and Nick Gagnon, and Brittany and Kyle Birnbach.  She was “Aunt Ag” to scores of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.  Due to the current health restrictions, a private funeral service was held, followed by interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. A Memorial Mass and a celebration of Aggie’s life will be held at a later date.  Donations in her memory may be made to The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas, 273 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206, (formerly St. Patrick’s) or to the Sisters of Mercy, 634 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208.