Dawn Frances Corriveau (née Thurston), 86, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2025 at the Sunset House in Irondequoit, New York.

Dawn (aka “Gigi”) was born on March 10, 1939 in Portland, Maine and spent her formative years in Claremont, New Hampshire. She was a true New Englander: fiercely independent, stoic, and possessing a strong work ethic and an Irish wit.

The daughter of a foundry worker and union president, Albert Thurston and Hildegarde (nee’ Mader), Dawn learned the importance of workers’ rights and social justice issues at an early age. Her heroes were leaders in the Catholic Worker Movement like Dorothy Day and Daniel Berrigan and she lived her life with a commitment to Catholic Social Teaching.

In defiance of her mother’s wishes, Dawn attended Plymouth Teachers’ College and earned a Bachelor of Education degree with concentrations in English and Social Science. While at Plymouth, Dawn met her husband, Robert Corriveau (d. 2001). They loved to talk politics and shared their love for reading. They both graduated in 1961, wed, and began their teaching careers at Gorham Junior High School. Dawn was proud to say that she got her husband his first teaching job.

Dawn and Robert relocated to Auburn, New York to start a family. She spent most of the rest of her life there, moving to Rochester only in her final years.

Once the children were in school, Dawn returned to the workforce as Secretary and later Church Administrator of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She was a lifelong member of the Sacred Heart Church of Auburn, serving on numerous committees. She volunteered with Faith in Action and the Crop Walk and was a board member at Chapel House. Dawn lived her life in service to her family, friends, and community.

Dawn’s greatest loves were her family and friends, gardening, reading (she often had an upstairs book and a downstairs book), musical theater, tea & cranberry scones, PBS, and Sidney Poitier, the most handsome man she had ever seen.

Calling hours will be on Saturday, May 24 at 12-1 at the Sacred Heart Church at 90 Melrose Road, Auburn. Her Funeral Mass will follow at 1:15.

With Reverend Michael Brown as celebrant. Interment will follow in St Joseph's Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sunset House in Irondequoit.

Farrell's Funeral Service Inc 84 South St Auburn NY