Melissa “Missy” Hope Gagnon-Aylward was born August 19, 1968 in Taunton, Massachusetts. After graduating high school, she went on to graduate with honors at Bay State Junior College. Melissa immediately went into the healthcare industry as phlebotomist, and later changed jobs to work with her sister at SAR Engineering. While she loved her job at SAR, she found the most happiness helping people. Throughout her life she worked with children at a daycare center, worked in real estate, and until retirement, circled back to healthcare where she cared for a paraplegic for many years. She used her gift of positive energy and funny sense of humor to care for people. It’s also where she found the most joy.
Her true happiness, though, came from her childhood sweetheart, Brian, who she married and later welcomed two boys who were the loves of her life. She especially loved going camping with the kids watching her youngest son, “Little Brian”, play sports and attended every game to cheer him on. His friends commented that she was their “second mom”. Anyone who knew Missy also knew the animal lover she was. She had lots of animals throughout the years, her favorite dog being Merlin, and her cats, Tom & Jerry, who were always brought up in conversation and were her spoiled lap cats.
Missy’s contagious smile, infectious laugh, kind spirit, and will to serve others will always be remembered.
Missy is preceded in death by her mother, Joan Gagnon.
Missy is survived by her husband, Brian Aylward, their children, David Aylward and Brian Aylward. She is also survived by sisters, Michelle Fortune, Lisa Parkhill and husband Steve, Donna Simpson and husband Mark. Her in-laws, Deborah Aylward and Mustafa Elatmaoui, Michael and Helen Aylward, Lauren and Victor Giglio, Kimberly and Michael Fiorillo. Extended family, Wilfred and Linda Gagnon, Carla and Kenneth DeDominici, and Joseph Gagnon. She leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family members who love her.
A celebration of life will be held at Saint Theresa Parish, 466 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01821 on Tuesday, March 28th at 10:00am.
Missy was an organ donor. She has provided miracles to 4 different people and her heart continues to give!