Obituary: Deacon Clifford Chagnon
Deacon Clifford Chagnon, 92, died Feb. 13 at Our Lady of the Meadows in Richford.
He was born in St. Albans on Jan. 23, 1930, the son of Oscar and Rose (Flanagan) Wells. He married Barbara Longway on Dec. 24, 1950, in St. Albans.
He retired in 1985 as port director of the U.S. Customs in Richford after 36 years of federal service. He served with the Vermont National Guard on active duty during the Korean War in 1950.
He was ordained a permanent deacon on Sept. 29, 1985, and served at All Saints Parish in Richford.
Deacon Chagnon was a former member of the Richford Lions Club and a third- and fourth- degree member of the Knights of Columbus. After his retirement from Customs he worked at Blouin’s IGA Market in Richford for 11 years.
In addition to his wife of 71 years, he is survived by four children: Alan Chagnon and his wife, Debra, of Berkshire; Timothy Chagnon and his wife, Patricia, of Swanton; Todd Chagnon and his wife, Susan, of Mooers, New York; and Michele Chagnon Farrar and her husband, Eric, of Clover, South Carolina; his grandchildren and their spouses; great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Deacon Chagnon was predeceased by his brother Leonard Chagnon and sister-in-law Mildred Chagnon.
Visitation will take place Feb. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Goss-Spears Life Celebration Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. at All Saints Church, 152 Main St., Richford. Interment will be in the spring in Holy Cross Cemetery in St. Albans.
Contributions in Deacon Chagnon’s memory may be made to All Saints Catholic Church, 152 Main St., Richford, VT 05476