Cecile Marie Fontaine, age 88, of Gales Ferry, Connecticut passed away on March 30, 2026 in Canton, Georgia.

Born on May 26, 1937 in Massachusetts, to the late Arthur Ephraim Fontaine and Zepherine Rose Caron Fontaine. Cecile had a strong affinity for people, travel, and new life experiences. She lived a life worth remembering.

She loved to travel and saw much of the world during her long and illustrious career. She started as an OR nurse in New London, Connecticut. Later, she saw much of the world on the SS HOPE, the world's first peacetime hospital ship. It operated as a teaching hospital, bringing medical training and care to developing nations. After seeing everything from Tunisia to Brazil, she lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for a year advising and setting up operating rooms. When she moved back to the states, she worked for Pfizer pharmaceutical company in Boulder, CO. She rounded out her career as a Joint Commission Inspector, travelling to Vienna, Prague, Morocco and Australia.

She loved and honored her French heritage. She liked to cook, as she grew up doing with her aunts and mother in their family-owned restaurant. She loved the beach, whether on a nice walk or with a book. She was an excellent conversationalist and one of her greatest joys was getting to know interesting people, culminating in many lifelong friendships. Cecile thrived while immersed in new cultures, integrating them into her own life. She was quick with a joke and a fascinating story. Always a character, Cecile affectionately greeted her brother- even at 86 and much to his chagrin- as a petit garçon- little boy.

Cecile is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jerry Fontaine.

She is survived by her brother, Bernard (Silvie) Fontaine; and nieces and nephews, Linda (Terry) Vaughn of Blue Ridge, GA, Eddie (Kristy) Fontaine of Suches, GA, Theodore (Sharon) Fontaine of Byron, GA, and Suzanne (Mike) Crews of Blairsville, GA; many great nieces and nephews, extended relatives, and dear friends.

The world is a little dimmer without her light. We will miss you, matante. À ton souvenir.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Blue Ridge, Georgia with Father John Conway officiating. The family will visit with friends at the Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Blue Ridge, Georgia on Monday, April 6, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Cecile will be laid to rest at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Ratell Funeral Home will be handing the Massachusetts portion of Cecile's services. Please visit ratellfuneralhome.com to leave remembrances and words of sympathy for the family.