Fern M. Testa

With deep reverence, we announce the passing of Fern on February 27, 2024. We remember the life of Fernande "Fern" Testa, born as Fernande Marguerite in St. Paul, NB, Canada, and raised with love and warmth in Gardner, MA. Fernande, a humble soul known for her loving, compassionate, and generous spirit, passed away on February 27, 2024, at Leominster Hospital, surrounded by her loving husband, Jim, and family.

Fernande's life was a testament to the richness of simple pleasures. She found joy in the tranquility of watching birds, the thrill of a campfire in Maine, and the rhythm of country music, often leading her to the dance floor with a line dance. Fernande's love for gardening was more than a hobby; it was a reflection of her nurturing spirit, a metaphor of her life where she sowed seeds of love and reaped the happiness of a family bonded by warmth and understanding. Her love for her family was immeasurable. The love and companionship she shared with her husband, James, were the heartbeats of her life. The bond she shared with her daughter, Shelly, was so profound that they were not just mother and daughter but also best friends.

Fernande is survived by her loving husband, James Testa, and siblings, Aris Cormier (MaryAnne Hardy), Gilles (Karen) Cormier, Leo (Marcella) Cormier, Gisele (Philip) Atkinson, Diane (Victor) Roy, Mae (Gregg) Koski, and Rose Cormier. Fernande was a cherished grandmother to Austin and Kasey Fietz. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Shelly Ann Testa, her parents, Herve and Exelda Cormier, and her sisters, Leoline Boucher and Audette Walker. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson once penned, "I am a part of all that I have met," and Fernande was indeed a part of all the lives she touched. Her legacy of love, compassion, and generosity will forever be etched in the hearts of those she leaves behind.

Visitation will be held at the Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Road, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 01420, on Wednesday, 06 Mar 2024, at 10:00am, followed by an in-house funeral service at 1:00pm.

We invite you to share your memories of Fernande, and upload photos to the memorial page. Your remembrances help us all to remember the way she lived, rather than the way she died. They allow us to celebrate Fernande, and they remind us that her spirit lives within us always.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Wounded Warriors Project in Fern's name, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Arrangements are under the care of Brandon Funeral Home.
Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors.