Obituary of Gabrielle Catherine Johnson

Gabrielle Johnson (Montagne), 85, of Peoria, Arizona passed away peacefully on August 3, 2022. Gabrielle was born in Saint Albans, Vermont to John and Eva (Richer) Montagne on March 24, 1937. Gabrielle was so proud to be from a large family of 8 boys and 10 girls. Anyone who met Gabrielle soon knew of her large close-knit family, and that she was the baby of them all. Gabrielle lived on the Kellogg Road family farm until her marriage to Stephen William Johnson in 1960. Gabrielle’s Roman Catholic faith was always strong. As a child, Gabrielle was certain to become a Nun. She often talked about the Nun outfit her Mother, Memere, made for her that she could hardly wait to wear when she returned from school each day. She would borrow her Mother’s foot-long wooden beads and hurry out to the large farmhouse lawn and walk the perimeter while praying feverishly with her rosary beads, with the chickens as her students. Her Mother’s rosary beads were one of her most precious possessions and were with her when she passed. Gabrielle and Stephen moved to Glendale, Arizona in 1973. There they raised 3 daughters, and now have 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Gabrielle loved the Arizona sunshine, reminiscing about her wonderful childhood on Kellogg Road, speaking French with her siblings for hours on the phone, her gin and tonics, teaching the grandchildren about family traditions and table manners, and how being a Montagne meant that we “come from good stock”. Gabrielle is survived by her husband, Stephen William Johnson, her daughter and husband Laura and Dennis McDonald, their 3 children, Matthew and wife Stacie, Erica and husband Brandon and Dylan, and great grandchildren Cruz and Hazel; her daughter and husband Jennifer and Rod Staples, their 2 children, Sarah and husband Brian, and Nicole, and great grandchildren Hunter, Otto, River, Frankie and Freddie; and daughter, Victoria Truitt, her 2 children Gregory and Tyler, and great grandchild, Tyler, Jr. Gabrielle is also survived by two of her sisters, Suzanne and Claudette. An open house Celebration of Life will take place on September 24, 2022, at the residence of Laura and Dennis McDonald.