Barbara “Bunny” Gagne of Exeter, New Hampshire and Boothbay Harbor died peacefully on June 1, 2022, at Exeter Hospital following a brief illness.

Bunny was born Feb. 27, 1935, to Albert and Dorothy (Smart) Taylor and was the younger sister of Donald. She was a proud graduate of Robinson Female Seminary Class of 1953 in Exeter, and following her retirement served for many years as a board member of the Alumni Scholarship Fund.

She married Paul Gagne in 1955 and together they raised three children, Patricia, Michelle, and David. Bunny quickly rose through the federal ranks and retired in a management position from the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Vermont where she and her family lived for over 20 years.

Following the death of her beloved husband of 46 years, she relocated to her hometown of Exeter. Bunny promptly ensconced herself as a part of the community by working the polls on election day, helping seniors file tax returns through AARP and volunteering for the Exeter Historical Society, as a direct descendant of the Gilman family, founders of Exeter.

Bunny had a summer home on Juniper Point in Boothbay Harbor and was active for over 25 years on the board of JPVIS, ensuring that the community and its events would continue to thrive for many generations to come.

She was a founding member of the Keepers of Burnt Island Light in Boothbay, where she was a long-time board member and instrumental in ensuring volunteers were available to assist in the many school events and summer programs on the island, including the “Living Lighthouse Tour.”

She was a doting mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and always made efforts to be involved in each of their lives. Grandma Bunny will be greatly missed by all.

She was predeceased by her parents, older brother, husband Paul, daughter Patricia, and her partner later in life, Paul Gahan.

She leaves behind her loving family, daughter Michelle, son David and his wife Cindy, children Faith and Andrew, as well as Patricia’s children: Heather, husband Brian, children Matthew and Patrick; John, wife Heather, children Cameron and Peyton; and Peter, wife Chauntey, children Teylor and Jackson. She also leaves behind many other treasured individuals, including a son-in-law, sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews, a cousin on The Point and dear childhood friends Janice and Sally (and the ever-patient Carl).

At Bunny’s request, services will be private; a memorial will be planned for later this summer in Maine. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to Keepers of Burnt Island Light (KIBL), P.O. Box 738 Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

Bunny was 87 years old and wouldn’t let anyone forget it.