Claire F. (Gagnon) Bussiere of Colchester, passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 80. She was born on December 24, 1945, in Putnam, CT. She was the daughter of Joseph Etienne Gagnon and Melina Victoria (Rondeau) Gagnon. Her stepfather was Louis Lippiello of Thompson, CT. She grew up in Mechanicsville, (now part of Thompson, CT). She was the wife and best friend, since childhood, of William Bussiere of Colchester, CT. They had a lifelong love and friendship that will always be. She had seven children, Alan A. Fafard, Jr. of Portland, CT, Michelle R. (Fafard) Lippiello of South Carolina, Desiree G. Fafard of South Carolina, Anthony A. Fafard of Colchester, CT, David A. Fafard of Waterford, CT and two predeceased sons, Joseph A. Fafard and Joshua A. Fafard. She leaves behind her sibling, Henri Gagnon of Thompson, CT. Her predeceased siblings were Yvette (Gagnon) Beaudreault of Woodstock, CT, Louis Gagnon of California, Alfred Gagnon of Thompson, CT, Beatrice (Gagnon) Roderick, and Irene (Gagnon) Fafard of Putnam, CT. She has many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews that she leaves behind. She was very much loved and will be missed by all. Claire was truly one of a kind. She was very active in her church, St. Andrews in Colchester and her community. She was a CCD teacher, worked in church plays, was a member of the Ladies Guild for 45 years, and worked with the Oblate Missionaries of Haiti. She started a program with them called Adopt a Pig for many years. She was known as the Hat Lady in her parish for the many hats she wore to church every Sunday. Claire was a church organist at Norwich State Hospital and the Womens Correctional Center in Niantic, CT and many other parishes as well. In town, she was known as the Pickled Egg Lady for 25 years. She was an adoptive and foster mother for many years and enjoyed the challenge of helping children out to see a better way of living their lives. They were a blessing to her. Claire was an author and wrote an autobiography called Ma I Want A Name. She was a free-lance writer of many articles that were published. Claire loved her God, Family, Friends and just people. She was known for her smile, laughter and helping those in need. People usually told her, She was crazy for the chances she took in life. She would say, so whats new and laugh. She had a great sense of humor, love and pleasure in living life to the fullest. She was quite the lady. Funeral services will be held from the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester, on Saturday, January 24th, beginning with calling hours from 9 10:30 am. The funeral Mass will follow at 11am at St. Andrew Church. Burial will be in the St. Josephs Cemetery in N. Grosvenordale, CT at a later date. For online condolences or to share a story of Claire please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com

Events
Visitation

Saturday, January 24, 2026
9:00AM - 10:30AM
Aurora McCarthy Funeral Home, Inc.
167 Old Hartford Rd.
Colchester, CT 06415
Email: auroramccarthy@hotmail.com
Phone: (860) 537-9611

Funeral Liturgy
Saturday, January 24, 2026
11:00AM
St. Andrew Catholic Church
128 Norwich Ave
Colchester, CT 06415