Emile J. Richard, 92 of Salem passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, following a brief illness. He was the devoted husband of the late Florence (Kaplan) Richard with whom he shard 62 years of marriage.
Born and raised in Salem, he was the son of the late Albert J. and Madeleine (Maillet) Richard. As a young man he spent some time at a C.C. Camp in Wyoming prior to joining the Navy. A veteran of World War II he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Croatan in the Atlantic. Following the war he returned to Salem and in 1950 he and Florence were married. He was employed by Eastman Gelatin in Peabody for over 25 years.
Emile was a deeply religious man, devoted to his wife and family as well as his large extended family. A home body, he enjoyed working around their home.
He is survived by his son, David P. Richard of Salem, his daughter Sandra M. Gagnon of Lexington, KY, two grandsons, Peter J. “PJ” Gagnon of Bowling Green, KY, and Daniel Gagnon of Gunnison, CO, three sisters, Rita Gibson of Billerica, Alice Elia of Wenham and Lorraine Richard of Suncook, NH as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Edward, Leo & Joseph Richard, and sisters, Edna Bettencourt, Marie Kalinowsky & Eva Rawding.
Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 8:00 to 10:00 A.M at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Route 114 / 1-A] Salem to be followed by his funeral mass in Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd., Salem at 10:30 A.M. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For guestbook and additional information , please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com