Neila Deno Montagne's Obituary
Neila Deno Montagne, age 101, passed away July 27, 2022, in E.T. York Hospice Care Center. Neila was born June 9, 1921, in Connecticut. She grew up in poverty on a New Hampshire farm during the Depression and went to a one-room school house before going to high school. Neila was valedictorian of her high school class and then put herself through business school, where she received the outstanding graduate award. During WWII, she worked as a civilian secretary on a U.S. Army air force base in Maine. Wanting to see the world, Neila later transferred to a U.S. Air Force base in the Azores, Portugal. In 1946, she went to Germany as a legal secretary for a US lawyer in the Nuremburg Trials.
In Germany, Neila met her husband, John Montagne, a Marine pilot who was serving in the US occupational forces. They married back in the States and raised 3 children. John was employed by Boeing as a safety supervisor, spending most of his work life at Cape Kennedy for the early space launches. Neila returned to work as a legal secretary once the children grew up. Upon retiring, John and Neila revived their love of traveling, driving their RV to Newfoundland, California, and Alaska as well as taking two tours in Mexico. They remained married until John passed in 2016. After John’s death, Neila continued to have an active life in the Village in Gainesville, Fl.
Neila is survived by her 3 children: Michael Montagne and his partner Barbara Hendry, Patrick Montagne and his wife Vicky Montagne, and Lee Ann Montagne and her partner Jeff Skoda-Smith. Neila also leaves behind two granddaughters, Fiona Davis and Melissa Bollin, and a loving niece, Barbie Zorns. The family is grateful to the staff and residents of Jasmine Point at the Village for the care and affection they showed Neila and to the caregivers who supported both Neila and family in the last few months of her life.
The Graveside service will be held Friday, August 12, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Countryside Cemetery, 10926 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville (behind Countryside Christian School).
If anyone wishes to make a donation in her name, Doctors without Borders and Haven Hospice were some of Neila’s favorite charities.
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