Bégin, Fernande Yvette

Fernande Yvette McCoy, 89, of Nashua, widow of Ralph Evans McCoy, died Monday morning, January 16, 2012 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. McCoy was born in Clerval Abitiba, Quebec, Canada on July 30, 1922, a daughter of the late Jean-Baptiste and Marie Louise (Pronovost) Begin. Educated in Canadian schools, Fernande was employed with Bell Telephone in Montreal, Canada as Assistant Chief Operator from 1944 to 1956.
Fernande met her husband Ralph, (a Technical Sergeant in the US Air Force) while he was visiting Canada, and they were married in 1957. They resided in many locations including Newfoundland, Texas, New York and Japan before relocating to Nashua in March 1968.
Trained in Japan, Mrs. McCoy was a talented seamstress, tailor and dress maker. She was employed with the former Bergeron’s clothing store and the former Cornonis Cleaners both in downtown Nashua, and in addition, had many private clients. After retiring she volunteered for many years with the NH Foster Grandparents Program. She was a communicant of St. Patrick Church in Nashua.
A loving mother and grandmother, Fernande enjoyed most the family time they all had together. She was a fabulous cook and was often found preparing one of her favorite traditional Canadian recipes to share with her family and friends.
One of eleven children, she was predeceased by seven siblings. Members of her family include her daughters and sons-in-law, Audrey and Neal Hanowitz of Henniker and Belinda and Douglas Houle of Nashua; six grandchildren, Lauren Houle of Somerville, MA, Emily and Ryan Houle of Nashua, Maya Hanowitz of Henniker, Alyssa Midolo of Manchester, and Nathan Midolo and his wife Katherine of St. Paul, MN; two step-grandchildren, Jonah and Lucas Hanowitz; a brother, Marcel Begin of Vancouver, BC; two sisters, Rita McLaughlin of Chateauguay, Canada and Ghislaine Martin and her husband Jean of Montreal, Canada; two sisters-in-law, Carmelle McCoy of Bedford and Barbara Stevens of Lantana, FL; a brother-in-law, Clifford McCoy of Lantana, FL; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
SERVICES: A period of visitation will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua followed by a Prayer service at noon. Friends are invited to attend. The Rev. Deacon John J. Martin will officiate. A memorial Funeral Mass and Interment at West View Cemetery in Hudson will be held in the spring. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. (www.farwellfuneral.com).