BEVERLY: Maria C. (Gagnon) Whitehead, 92, died peacefully Monday, October 26, 2015 at the Braemoor Health Center in Brockton. She was the wife of the late Ernest B. Whitehead who died in 2000.
Born in Berlin, New Hampshire on February 8, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Alberic and Alma (Melina) Gagnon. She had resided in Beverly most of her life.
Maria was employed at the former Woolworth’s in Beverly for over thirty years before her retirement in 1985. She also helped out at her brother-in-laws, Arvies Candies in Beverly for several years.
She was the Past-President of the Alliance on the Mentally Ill in Beverly. An avid bowler, she also enjoyed aqua aerobics at the Beverly Y.M.C.A. She was a member of the Beverly Senior Center, where she loved taking part in the annual fashion show.
She is survived by her son, Mark W. Whitehead; two granddaughters, Christina Fasano and her husband, Joseph and Renee Correa and her husband, Samuel; six great-grandchildren, Joey, Daniella, Benjamin and Jacob Fasano, Haley Carter and Nathaniel Correa. She was also predeceased by her son, Robert A. Whitehead.
Her funeral service will be held on Monday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly at 12 noon. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in North Beverly Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the National Alliance on the Mentally Ill, 529 Main St., #1M17, Boston, MA 02129.