Saratoga Springs, NY Born Pearl Theresa Gagnon, Theresa Raffael went home to her Lord and Savior on Thursday (Oct. 9, 2008) at Wesley Health Care Center. She was 80. Born on Nov. 17, 1927 in Tupper Lake, NY, she was the daughter of the late Louis Alfred and Aurora (Hainault) Gagnon. Theresa moved to the Saratoga Springs area in 1935 and was a 1946 graduate of St. Peter's Academy. She served in the US Army from 1953 to 1958 where she performed top secret duties at the Pentagon during the Korean War. While in the Army, she married her first husband, the late Lawrence Higgins. Theresa married her second husband, the late Leon Raffael in 1983. Theresa is also predeceased by her son, Ricky James Higgins, as well as four brothers, William, Stanley, Leonord, and Victor Gagnon; and one sister Aurora Hill. Theresa attended SUNY Plattsburgh where she wrote the lyrics to the song for the graduating class of 1946. At the age of 61, Theresa went back to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Adirondack Community College with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Humanities. During this time, she was nominated for Whos Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. She also wrote award-winning poetry and published her autobiography, Pearl at a Great Price. Theresa was honored by The National Library of Poetry with the publishing of her poem Retreat Thoughts. In addition, her poem God Understands won second place in the Solo Senior Drama Category at The National Creative Arts Festival. Over the years, Theresa worked as a nurses aide, a paper sorter at International Paper Company, and cared for children from broken homes at a convent. She also dedicated much of her time to volunteer work in the community including coaching Special Olympics bowling teams and volunteering at The Malta Ambulance Corps, where she called bingo and helped collect donations for their annual banquets. Theresa took up hobbies such as golf, latch-hooking, making home-made chocolates, and bowling. She was a bowling finalist three times on TV Tournament Time. Theresas most cherished moments were spent with her grandchildren, Jennifer, Ryan, Shawn, and Jason, who she considered the apple of her eye. They affectionately called her Mimom. Survivors include her daughter, Debi Coombs and her husband Alan; her cherished grandchildren, Jennifer, Ryan, Shawn, and Jason Coombs, all of Saratoga Springs. On May 5, 2008, Theresa was blessed with a great granddaughter, Abigail Marty. She is also survived by her brothers, Roger Gaynor, Francis Gagnon and his wife Pauline, all of Saratoga Springs; her sister Marie Groulx of Binghamton, NY and several nieces and nephews. Theresas family values all the time spent with her and will greatly miss her, but know that she is home now. Her family would like to thank the staff on 3 Springs at Wesley Health Care Center for their kind and loving care they gave Theresa. Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm Monday (Oct. 13, 2008) at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway (584-5373). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30am Tuesday in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway by the Rev. Neil Draves-Arpaia. Burial will follow in the family plot at St. Peter's Cemetery, West Ave. Memorials may be made in her name to Secret Santa (phone 884-4159)