NORTHAMPTON – Gail J. (Warriner) Brousseau, 82, passed away peacefully at her residence in Northampton, MA on June 14, 2021 with loving family by her side. Born on January 12, 1939 in Northampton, MA, she was the youngest of three daughters, born to the late Dorothy (Dubois) Toole and Ralph W. Warriner. Gail was raised in Northampton, MA and was a graduate of Northampton High, class of ’56.
Gail grew up across the street from the love of her life, Ernest Brousseau, and the two married in 1966, moving to Southwick, MA where they lovingly raised 7 children from their blended marriages. They moved to Lawrenceville, GA for 18 years before retiring to their home in Navarre, FL, where they resided for 20 years before recently returning home to Northampton, MA.
Gail was a multi-talented entrepreneur and spent over 40 years designing and sewing luxurious custom window treatments in her drapery workroom. She was also a proud partner of ‘Stafford Decors’, an Interior decorating shop, with her daughter Susan, in Stafford, VA for over 15 years.
Always very generous with her time, love, and faith, putting the needs of others above her own. Gail was vice-president and an active member of the Southwick Women’s Club for numerous years. She worked countless hours volunteering for Hospice, as well as volunteering hundreds of hours sewing for many charities. Gail was an active member of ST. Sylvester’s Catholic Church in Navarre, FL, in which she also enjoyed traveling on many trips overseas with her parish. She especially took pride in her volunteer work for the Naval Air Museum, in Pensacola, FL where she gave over 3500 hours of her time, during her retirement with her husband Ernie, much of which of this time was used to help completely refurbish the historic PBY2 that Admiral Sherman flew into Tokyo Bay on, for the signing of the surrender document of the 2nd World War. This plane is now on display in the Naval Air Museum. Gail also spent many years volunteering her time every week to teach oil painting to many women in her beautiful home. She also enjoyed her many pets as well as tending to her magnificent floral gardens.
Gail will be extremely missed by her beloved husband Ernie, of 55 years; her loving children, Susan (Chandler) Armitage and husband David of Westfield, MA; Peter Chandler, Jr. of Alpharetta, GA; Gerald Brousseau of Cummings, GA; Victoria (Brousseau) Harry and husband Randy of Worland, WY; Dale Brousseau of Laramie, WY; Steven Brousseau and Rhonda of Navarre FL; her 12 grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, relatives, and close friends.
Gail was preceded in death by her daughter, Debra (Chandler) Cusson; Grandson, Gary Chandler; her two sisters Carol Warriner, and Dawn (Warriner) Brown.
A private funeral is planned. DROZDAL FUNERAL HOME of Northampton has been entrusted with her services. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in her memory to charities: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at stjude.org; Save the Animals Foundation at staf.org or Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org. For more information or to leave the family a personal condolence, please visit Drozdalfuneralhome.com
