Joseph E. A. “Al” Goulet, 86, passed away suddenly on Tuesday February 19, 2019 at Charlton Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was the devoted husband of Phyllis C. (Govoni) Goulet. They had been married for 63 beautiful years.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Amedee and Germaine (Normand) Goulet, lived in New Bedford and Dartmouth before moving to Fairhaven to start his family. He was a graduate of Dartmouth High School.
Al was formerly employed as a Field Investigator for the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission for 26 years, until his retirement in 2000.
During the Korean War, he served in the U.S Coast Guard for four years as a Quarter Master, 2nd class. He was also involved in Sea and Rescue. He was a former member of the Dartmouth Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus in Fairhaven. In his free time, Al was a talented painter and enjoyed golfing with his long-time friends on courses in Cape Cod. Spending time with his family was a priority in Al’s life, and his presence in their lives will be greatly missed. He was also a doting great-grandfather who spent as much time as possible adoring his growing family. A jokester, Al was always able to bring laughter into the room, even in the hardest of times.
He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Phyllis. Together, they had four daughters, Paula Gardner and her husband Glenn, Ann Marie Pinto and her husband Fernando, Patricia Caron and her husband Roger, all of Fairhaven, and Suzanne Valliere and her husband Ron of Colorado. Al is also survived by six grandchildren, Blake Gardner and his wife Christie, Marissa Gardner, Nicole Pinto, Danielle Pinto, Mark DeSilva, and Raymond DeSilva, as well as three great-grandchildren, Madison and Mila Gardner, and Colton DeSilva, and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Normand and Philip Goulet.
His funeral will be held on Monday Feb. 25 at 8:45 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. His Funeral Mass will follow at St. Joseph’s Church in Fairhaven at 10 AM. Cremation will follow. Visiting hours will be on Sunday Feb. 24 from 3-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The American Heart Association, or to the charity dearest to your heart. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.