Louis D. Ghilardi, 94, of East Freetown died Thursday December 8, 2016 at Hathaway Manor surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Therese (Dubois) Ghilardi; they had been married for 69 years.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late John B. and Mary A. (Finni) Ghilardi, he lived in New Bedford before moving to East Freetown.
Mr. Ghilardi was employed as a police officer for the New Bedford Police Department for many years until his retirement.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Taylor in the South Pacific.
Louis was a family man who loved spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. True to his Italian heritage, if you entered his home he needed to feed you. He was the grill master and summers were always spent with family and friends around the pool playing badminton, shuffleboard and bocce. He loved, and was loved by, all the Karns family dogs. "I Love You More" was his favorite expression.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Charlene Karns and her husband Robert of Portsmouth, RI, and Christine Lamoureux and her husband Mark of Fort Myers, FL; a niece, Carol Potter of Cranston, RI; five grandchildren, Sarah Burman, Joshua Karns and his wife Lee, Rachel Kerrison and her husband Jude, Danielle Thompson and her husband Todd, and Nicole DeRoma and her husband Daniel; seven great-grandchildren, Samantha Burman, Hayden Karns, Colton, Fiona, and Bowen Kerrison, Jenna and Julia Thompson.
He was the brother of the late Anita Ghilardi, Eleanor Castellina, Caroline Galvao, and Robert Ghilardi.
A private family burial service with military honors will be held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.