Obituary for Lee G. Townsend (Gauvreau)
Lee G. (Gauvreau) Townsend, age 81, passed away on August 30, 2022 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Woburn on January 7, 1941 and was the daughter of the late Alphonse and Sarah Jo (McLaughlin) Gauvreau.
Lee was a graduate of MCC, Salem State and Bangor Theological Seminary where she acquired her Masters of Divinity. She was an ordained UCC Congregational Minister. Lee served the UCC Congregational Church and Unitarian Church in Eastport Maine. She fondly remembered her home church Montvale Congregational Church, Woburn.
Lee served most of her life at various nonprofit organizations. She worked for the Red Cross in Pensacola, FL organizing and assisting Cuban refugees. She was president of Woburn's Church Women United in the 1980's, while simultaneously attending Salem State and working as a hospice aid. She volunteered with her daughter's Brownie troop, her son's cub scouts and Woburn Pop Warner. She took in seven foster children while raising her own children.
Lee later moved to Maine for many years. During that time, she volunteered to establish a battered women's shelter and later at a newly founded Kidney Donor program. She enjoyed producing local theater and painting the spectacular view from her studio window.
Lee's greatest passion was painting. She attended classes at Boston's MFA school of Art and studied under local artists. She did amazing portraits, modern art, and seascapes. She won awards from the Woburn Guild of Artists for her portraits.
Lee is survived by her daughter, Robin Longendyke and her husband Kirk Longendyke, her daughter Cheryl Pica, and her son Carl Townsend and his wife Connie. She has 11 grandchildren, Erica Foster, Taeyoung Lee, Angela Pica and her fiancé Sergio Dos Santos, David and Brittany Pica, Thomas Townsend, RJ Townsend, Miranda Warner, Ryan Townsend, Joshua Townsend, Rory Townsend, Connor Townsend and his fiancé Leah Ciampa. Lee also has 5 great-granddaughters, Eris, McKenna, Eloise, Eleanor and Evelyn. The first male great-grandchild, Francesco, will be born soon. Lee is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Lee was delighted to visit with Keith Gauvreau, Stephanie Gauvreau Witcomb and Scotti Gauvreau.
Lee is predeceased by her son John Townsend, son-in-law Lou Pica, her parents Al and Jo Gauvreau, her sister Estelle Browne, her brothers Richard Gauvreau and Eugene Gauvreau, her niece Maureen Hurley and nephew Micheal Gauvreau.
A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, September 10th at 11am at Fairview Cemetery, Main Street/Twiss Road, N. Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers please donate to Alzheimer's Research at alz.org.
She was born in Woburn on January 7, 1941 and was the daughter of the late Alphonse and Sarah Jo (McLaughlin) Gauvreau.
Lee was a graduate of MCC, Salem State and Bangor Theological Seminary where she acquired her Masters of Divinity. She was an ordained UCC Congregational Minister. Lee served the UCC Congregational Church and Unitarian Church in Eastport Maine. She fondly remembered her home church Montvale Congregational Church, Woburn.
Lee served most of her life at various nonprofit organizations. She worked for the Red Cross in Pensacola, FL organizing and assisting Cuban refugees. She was president of Woburn's Church Women United in the 1980's, while simultaneously attending Salem State and working as a hospice aid. She volunteered with her daughter's Brownie troop, her son's cub scouts and Woburn Pop Warner. She took in seven foster children while raising her own children.
Lee later moved to Maine for many years. During that time, she volunteered to establish a battered women's shelter and later at a newly founded Kidney Donor program. She enjoyed producing local theater and painting the spectacular view from her studio window.
Lee's greatest passion was painting. She attended classes at Boston's MFA school of Art and studied under local artists. She did amazing portraits, modern art, and seascapes. She won awards from the Woburn Guild of Artists for her portraits.
Lee is survived by her daughter, Robin Longendyke and her husband Kirk Longendyke, her daughter Cheryl Pica, and her son Carl Townsend and his wife Connie. She has 11 grandchildren, Erica Foster, Taeyoung Lee, Angela Pica and her fiancé Sergio Dos Santos, David and Brittany Pica, Thomas Townsend, RJ Townsend, Miranda Warner, Ryan Townsend, Joshua Townsend, Rory Townsend, Connor Townsend and his fiancé Leah Ciampa. Lee also has 5 great-granddaughters, Eris, McKenna, Eloise, Eleanor and Evelyn. The first male great-grandchild, Francesco, will be born soon. Lee is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Lee was delighted to visit with Keith Gauvreau, Stephanie Gauvreau Witcomb and Scotti Gauvreau.
Lee is predeceased by her son John Townsend, son-in-law Lou Pica, her parents Al and Jo Gauvreau, her sister Estelle Browne, her brothers Richard Gauvreau and Eugene Gauvreau, her niece Maureen Hurley and nephew Micheal Gauvreau.
A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, September 10th at 11am at Fairview Cemetery, Main Street/Twiss Road, N. Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers please donate to Alzheimer's Research at alz.org.