Evelyn R. (Gagne) Fontaine

Evelyn (Gagne) Fontaine, 87, of Columbia, CT, passed from this life on May 16, 2016, in Wakefield, RI. Evelyn was born in Norwich, CT, on September 19, 1928, daughter of Evelyn (Gadue) Gagne and Ephrine Gagne. She resided in Uncasville in her early years, then in Taftville after her marriage to Leo Fontaine, Sr. The family then moved to Columbia, CT. in 1971, where they resided for the remainder of her life. The family also spent considerable time in South Kingstown, RI, at their cottage at Green Hill Beach. Evelyn led a full and happy life as a wife, mother, and homemaker with many interests, talents, and passions. She was unwaveringly dedicated to and supportive of her husband, children, and grandchildren, delighting in their adventures and accomplishments, and encouraging them to do their best in all they attempted. But Evelyn was not just an onlooker, and had her own share of hobbies and interests. She was an accomplished Fisherman Sweater Knitter, counted cross-stitcher, and master seamstress, including the design and construction of the most beautiful Barbie Doll ball gowns imaginable! She enjoyed passing her talents on to others as a sewing instructor and the manager of The Thimble fabric shop. Ev also loved music and spent innumerable hours with her buddy, Jeanne Washko, playing music on her portable keyboard and singing with the residents of local nursing homes several times a week for many years. Evelyn loved animals! There were always pets in our home ? birds, fish, gerbils, Guinea pigs, dogs, and cats, and even a raccoon at one point! She loved her own dogs, Tuffy, Cappy, Scooter, Sugar, and Bagel, but was also very eager to dog-sit (and spoil!) the dogs of her children - ?Oh, Comet ate for us. I just put a little ice cream on his food!? (Thanks, Mom?) Ev and Leo also fed the wild birds, and they took great pleasure in seeing the variety of birds that would flock to their feeders. While Evelyn strongly disavowed any connections with the feminist movement, in some ways she was a forward thinker in that regard; when her daughter was very young and expressed interest in becoming a nurse, she discouraged her, stating ?You should be a doctor. You like to give orders, not take them!? Evelyn herself was not an educated woman, although she was bright, and a wordsmith at heart. (She generally trounced her college-aged granddaughter, Lauren, at Scrabble in their late night games at the cottage at Green Hill!) But Evelyn had ended her formal education at the age of 15, to go work with her own mother, Evelyn Chester, in their roadside stand, serving hotdogs and milkshakes. It was there she first laid eyes on Leo, spilling a coffee milkshake all over a wicker chair in the process! He proceeded to sweep her off her feet with an offer of a ride in his trailer truck, and off they went, for the next 68 years. Evelyn lived her life as a joyful woman. Her mission seemed to be to spread happiness and well-being to others. She was compassionate, generous, and dedicated to family and friends ? human, furry, and feathered alike. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Evelyn is survived by her husband, Leo M. Fontaine, Sr., brother Raymond Chester and his wife Betty, of Montville, CT., brother Ronald Chester, of Norwich, CT, her son Leo Fontaine, Jr. and his wife Anita Russo, of Wakefield, RI, her daughter Linda Rainwater and husband Rob, of Columbia, CT., her son Michael Fontaine and wife Gloria, of South Kingstown, RI, as well as her grandchildren, Lauren Feehrer, Toby Fontaine, and Max and Allison Rainwater, and great-grandchildren Lucas and Jesse Feehrer. The family would like to extend special thanks to Spencer and Carole Fontaine for their unfailing friendship and support through thick and thin. The family will have a private burial at West Street Burying Ground, in Columbia, CT. There will be no calling hours. Messages of remembrance or condolence may be left at www.potterfuneralhome.com . Donations may be made to the Alzheimer?s Foundation of America http://alzfdn.org/ or Friends of Mansfield Animal Shelter http://www.mansfieldshelter.org/.Charitable donations may be made to:Alzheimer's Fountain of America225 N. Michigan Ave. FL. 17, Chicago IL 60601Tel: 1-800-272-3900Email: info@alz.orgWeb : http://alzfdn.org/Friends of Mansfield Animal ShelterWeb: http://www.mansfieldshelter.org