Gisele MacDonald

Gisele B. MacDonald, 63, of Sanford passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday October 7, 2021. She was born in Sanford on July 31, 1958 to Gerard and the late Rita Bernier. She grew up in Sanford where she attended local schools. She married her high school sweetheart and the love her of life Brad MacDonald. Together they had two children and shared 48 years together. Gisele worked at Sprague Electric and retired from Pratt & Whitney as an inspector after 35 years where she made many lifelong friends. Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in August 2006, over the 15-year battle, Gisele endured surgeries and over a dozen different chemo treatments. Always with a fighter spirit and faith in medicine and her doctors, she never let it get her down. She was the toughest, strongest, most positive person. Gisele was a shining light and will be missed by so many. She had many passions in life. She loved her family and friends very much and it was always important that they maintain a close relationship. She enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors with her family hunting and fishing with many trophies to show for it including moose, bear and many deer. There wasn't a craft that she didn't do or try over the years. She loved making homemade cards for every occasion for all her loved ones and getting together weekly with her sewing sisters. She wanted to see the world after she got the travel bug going with her daughter, Erica on a work trip to Seattle. Gisele and Erica traveled throughout Europe on many adventures seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Barcelona Sagrada Familia church, London Eye, Beer and waffles in Brussels, Berlin Wall, Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and parasailing over the Swiss Alps. She lived life to the fullest all while fighting her battle. She was truly an inspiration to everyone that knew her. She is predeceased by her mother Rita Bernier, brother Michael Bernier and father in-law Verne MacDonald. She is survived by her husband Brad MacDonald of Sanford, her two children, Erica Murphy and her husband Ryan of Sanbornville, NH and Trevor MacDonald and his fiance Liz Johndrow of Shapleigh; father Gerard Bernier, four siblings, Denise Houle and her husband David, Annette Castonguay and her husband Tom, Claire Webb and her husband Steve and her brother Ricky Bernier all of Sanford; mother in-law Marian MacDonald of Sanford, four sister in-laws, Janet Gagne and her husband Conrad of Acton, Sheila Cabana and her husband David, Karen Roussin and her husband David of Sanford, Patricia Breton and her husband Thomas of Shapleigh and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, she would be honored if you donated in her memory to a cause that was near and dear to her heart, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). She believed in the advancements in medicine and attributes them to her longer life. Visiting hours for Gisele will be held on Tuesday, October12th from 4 to 6PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11AM at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church in Sanford. Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com