Gloria (Gagnon) Roddy, a longtime Townsend resident

Townsend – Gloria (Gagnon) Roddy, a longtime Townsend resident and former teacher at the Groton-Dunstable School District, died peacefully at home surrounded by her children on September 10, 2026. Gloria (“GeeGee”) was born in Lowell on April 25, 1947, the daughter of the late Raymond and Yvette (Nadeau) Gagnon. She graduated from Chelmsford High in 1965 and Lowell State University in 1969. Following graduation, she taught English/Language Arts in the Groton-Dunstable School District, where she spent her entire 35-year career. During her career, Gloria taught more than 4,000 students, served as an advisor for the National Honor Society and was an 8th Grade Team Leader. She was a communicant of St. John’s Church in Townsend and also taught CCD classes. Following her diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma in 2004, Gloria retired and was sponsored by Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Takeda) to speak to cancer support groups throughout the East Coast. This work brought great meaning to her life, and Gloria was honored to inspire and offer hope to people navigating their own cancer diagnoses. She especially valued the camaraderie and support she found through their ambassador program. Gloria loved sparkly things and enjoyed vacationing anywhere near the ocean where she could watch the sunlight sparkle like diamonds on the water. She was an outstanding cook with a lifelong passion for cooking that she inherited from her father. She passed this passion and knowledge on to her own children who loved cooking with her. In recent years, Gloria delighted in spending time with her four grandchildren who adored their Mimere. Gloria was predeceased by her husband, John T. Roddy, Jr., with whom she celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her four children who cherished their mother: her private nurse and primary caregiver, Amy Roddy of Worcester, Kathryn and her husband Francis Roussin II of West Townsend, John III and his wife Kristine of Leominster and Rebecca and her husband Joshua Machado of Leominster; four grandchildren, Mary Roddy, Frankie, Autumn and Grace Roussin; her brother Nelson Gagnon and his wife Eileen of Tyngsborough; brother-in-law James Roddy of Pepperell; sister-in-law Maureen and her husband Tom Dalton of Litchfield, NH; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends. The family is eternally grateful for Gloria’s devoted group of caregivers (her angels), Collette Woodward, Pattie Novello and Kyla DeHart, who enabled her to stay comfortable at home. Calling hours for Gloria will be held on Thursday, September 17 at Anderson Funeral Home, 250 Main St. (Rt 119) Townsend Center from 4-7 PM. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM on Friday, September 18 in St. John the Evangelist Church, 1 School St., Townsend. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 7th Floor Norwalk, CT 06851.

Gloria (Gagnon) Roddy, a longtime Townsend resident

April 25, 1947 - September 10, 2026