Janine Louise (Gagnon) Carvalho

AGAWAM

Janine Louise (Gagnon) Carvalho passed away on January 6, 2021 at the age of 92. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on July 25, 1929 to the late Armand Joseph and Dolores (Cote) Gagnon, she was raised in New Bedford and was a graduate of the New Bedford Textile Institute. She wed the love of her life, the late Jose “Joe” Carvalho, Jr. who passed away in 2003. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage. Her husband worked for DuPont, and then Allied Chemical as a chemical engineer who set up polymer textile manufacturing processes in newly established textile plants in the United States and in foreign countries. This presented Janine with the challenge of raising their children while moving as often as Joe’s job required. Married in New Bedford, they were to have their first two children, Joseph and Paul in North Carolina; their first daughter, Corinne in Virginia; and their youngest, Celeste in Connecticut. Prior to Celeste’s birth, Janine raised her three eldest children in Darmstadt, Germany; Nassau, Bahamas; and Hartsdale, New York while Joe worked for as a chemical engineer for Von Kohorn International, then American Cyanamid before moving to Stamford, Connecticut.

When Joe took the Plant Engineering job at John H. Breck Co., they moved their family to West Springfield where they lived for many years. She accepted this peripatetic life with strength of character and love. As a result, the family was held close and to this day finds joy and comfort in each other’s company. Janine’s and Joe’s guiding principle of “Family first” has translated down to her many grandchildren who are all very close to each other, supporting each other through life’s challenges and celebrating each other’s successes. Janine and Joe placed a high value on education and all of her children and grandchildren have achieved college degrees of various levels including one doctor. Janine will be missed by so many, but she has left an indelible imprint on our lives. We will remember her by our dedication to our families, and to our communities. As an extended family, the Carvalhos, Gagnons, and Serecignis embody her legacy and will carry on in her wonderful example of living positive, supportive, and loving lives.

Janine’s favorite times were the large family gatherings with her sister Yvonne Serecigni’s and brother Armand Gagnon’s families, usually at Cape Cod, but also in Florida, North Carolina, or wherever the group decided.  Janine was always full of fun and playful mischief and was often abetted by her co-conspirators Yvonne, and her beloved sister-in-law Pat Gagnon. Her sense of humor has definitely been passed down to each succeeding generation and family gatherings are known for the laughter and fun she inspired.  

Janine leaves her siblings:  Yvonne Emma (Gagnon) Serecigni of Florida, and Armand Lionel Gagnon of New Jersey; her children: Joseph Carvalho III and his wife Gayle Elizabeth (Conklin) Carvalho of Springfield; Paul Armand Carvalho and his wife Linda Castronovo of Hadley; Corinne Dolores (Carvalho) Tise and her husband Lyle Scott Tise of West Springfield; and Celeste Janine (Carvalho) Basile and her husband  Ferdinando “Fred” Carmino Basile of Springfield; her grandchildren: Alyssa Gayle (Carvalho) Courtney and her husband Christopher Paul Courtney of California; Michael Armand Carvalho of Springfield; Joseph William  Carvalho and his fiancée Mandy Sandidge of Westfield; Dr. Susanne Fuller (Carvalho) Matzell and her husband Benjamin Matzell of California; Drew Castronovo of California;  Kathleen Elizabeth (Tise) Pereira and her husband Adam Pereira of Chicopee; Danielle Marie Tise and her fiancé Jesse Joseph  Pastore of Connecticut; Devin Francis Basile and his wife Karen (Varela) Basile of New Jersey; Paul  Nicholas Basile of Worcester; and Christopher Riley Basile of Springfield; her great grandchildren: Grace Janine Courtney and Thomas Joseph Courtney of California; Isla Ellen Matzell, and Juliana Janine Matzell of California; and  Lucas Joseph Pereira, and Emma Rey Pereira of Chicopee.

The family is deeply appreciative of the love and care Janine received in the last years of her life living at the Heritage Woods Memory Care Unit in Agawam. The management and staff always provided a safe  and loving environment for Janine and the family would like any donations in her honor to be made to : Memory Care Unit, Heritage Woods, 462 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001.

All arrangements are being made by the  Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home of Holyoke; Cremation at Springfield Cemetery; All services for Janine will be privately held by the family.

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