Gerard F. Vaillancourt, of 63 Plymouth St.Methuen, MA, Son of Joseph David Vaillancourt and Cecile Perron Vaillancourt, born in Lawrence Massachusetts, June 30, 1925, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on October 19, 2016. He was 91 years old and pre-deceased by his wife of 63 years Lucille in 2010, his brother Roger, and sisters Irene and Doris.
Gerry leaves behind 4 children, Susan and her husband Harry of Princeton, MA, Robert and his wife Debra of Bethel, VT, MaryAnn and Her Husband James of Meredith, NH and John and his wife Mary of Carver, MA. He also has 12 grandchildren, Vanessa, Jeanne, Jim, Ryan, , Gregory, Denise, Dan, Ashleigh, Laura, Fiona, Caleb, Daymien, as well as 10 great-grandchildren Vaughan, Kaydence, Carter, Cameryn, Catlin, Tyler, Skylar, Alyza, Coralie and Emmaline. Gerry also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.
Gerry went to elementary school at Sacred Heart in Lawrence and Lawrence High School until the age of 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served until 1946 aboard U. S. Navy and in the U.S.N. Armed Guard aboard several U.S. merchant ships in the Pacific Theater, Northern Atlantic Theater and the Mediterranean as a Gun Captain on a 5" 38 gun turret and attained the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class before he was Honorably Discharged.
He worked at Joubert’s Diner and attended dances and card game events at the French Social Club in Lawrence where he met Lucille Champagne, and eventually married her on October 11, 1947.
While his children were young, Gerry worked 3 jobs to support them and Lucille, as a milkman, a cook in the diner, and a bus driver. He continued as a cook and kitchen manager with his brother Roger at Val’s Restaurant in North Andover and as a bus driver for Trombly Motor Coach for many more years.
After over 40 years at Val’s Restaurant, Gerry got his GED from Lawrence High School and began his career as a security guard for Raytheon’s Missile Systems Division in the Andover Facility on Lowell Rd. He served the Guards admirably for 10 years and was present during the visit of President George H. W. Bush after the successful campaign and deployment of the Patriot Missile in the first Gulf war in 1990. He was known as the “Mayor” because he was friends with everyone he met there.
Gerry retired from Raytheon and worked part time for a while as an auto dealer vehicle driver and as a courtesy van driver before retiring completely.
Gerry was a loving Father, grandfather and great-grandfather who thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family and visiting his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with Lucille often. Driving and traveling to their homes was a pleasure for them both. He loved to drive, almost as much as he loved his family and spending time with them. He would also receive frequent visits and spend time visiting his many nieces and nephews as often as possible.
Gerry’s personality is one you never forgot. You always got it straight from him and he never failed to voice his mind to anyone. You definitely knew where you stood with him. He also enjoyed playing cards and dining out with his many friends and his family and being taken out to breakfast frequently.
After Gerry’s beloved wife Lucille passed away in 2010, he devoted time to caring for and enjoying his 2 most beloved pet cats, Mini and Lilli. They were his best friends during tough times when he was alone and sad, and they kept him constant company day and night. He cared for them with great affection because his Sweetheart Lucille was also an avid animal lover. They will miss him too as we all will. Gerry was full of life and had the personality to match.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish at St. Theresa’s Church, 22 Plymouth St., Methuen, MA. Entombment will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum in Lawrence, MA. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday morning prior to the Mass from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury St., Lawrence, MA. To send an online condolence or for more information, please go to www.beenfuneralhome.com.