Lucille B. Tanguay, 83
LENOX, Mass. â€' Lucille Barbara Tanguay, 83, of Cameron House died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
Born in Portland, Maine, on Nov. 20, 1926, she was the daughter of William and Cora Marr Grace. She resided in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., for many years before moving to Great Barrington in 1973.
Mrs. Tanguay and her husband, William Tanguay operated Wonderful Things in Great Barrington, the largest handmade American crafts and supply store in Western Massachusetts at the time. They first began with a model-making business near Penn Station in New York City, while starting their family in a small Cape Cod-style home in West Hempstead, N.Y. In her younger years, she worked as a secretary for Hannaford Brothers and the Portland Council of Churches before taking the post as an executive secretary for the department of Visual Education of the Methodist Board of Missions in Manhattan, N.Y.
While in Croton-on-Hudson, she was active in the church, Scouting and the Fresh-Air Children's Project. She was a Girl Scout leader and a member of the Women's Group at Croton's Lutheran Church. She spent summers with her family at a small cottage on Panther Pond in Maine.
As a child, she loved to ice skate, sled and visit the railroad yards. She attended local baseball games with her father and brother. Mrs. Tanguay played the accordion for church programs as a teen but most enjoyed riding the Grand Trunk Railroad to Norway, Maine, to visit her grandparents, Morris and Delia Marr. She was president of both the Methodist Youth Program in Maine and the Greater Portland Youth Council.
Later in life, her passions turned to gardening, books, sweets, playing card games, working puzzles and sports. She was an avid fan of the Red Sox and Celtics, never missing a Celtics game on television. She was a loving, dedicated mother and wife who will be remembered for her limitless support
Her husband, whom she married Feb. 23, 1952, in the Methodist Church in Portland, is deceased.
She leaves her son, Steven Tanguay and his wife, Astrig, of Searsport, Maine; two daughters, Shari Tanguay and her husband, Robert Plant, of Lee and Suanne Tanguay of Milford; and her niece, Bobbi Grace of the state of Florida.
She was predeceased by her brother, William Grace.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Tanguay will be conducted on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at noon at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington by the Rev. Steven W. Bridges. The burial will in Elmwood Cemetery will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lucille Tanguay Rheumatoid Arthritis Fund through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.
The family wishes to thank all the staff and residents of the Cameron House for caring so much for Mrs. Tanguay and being such an important part of her life. Everyone who knew Lucy was touched by her warmth, thoughtfulness and gentleness towards all.