Gilford-Eugene J. Gilbert, 95, beloved husband of Rachel I. (Morin) Gilbert, passed away, Thursday evening April 12th, 2007 at St. Francis Healthcare Center in Laconia.
Born in Laconia on August 28, 1911, he was the son of the late Alfred and Arthemise (Beaudoin) Gilbert and had been a resident of the Lakes Region his entire life. Prior to his retirement, he was a self-employed contractor who built homes and cottages in the Lakes Region including many chalets in Gunstock Acres. He also owned a Perma Dock franchise for many years.
Gene was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Laconia, a life member of the Laconia Lodge of Elks, B.P.O.E. 876, a fourth degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, Laconia Council No. 428, and a member of La Societe St. Jean Baptiste de Laconia. Gene enjoyed family gatherings, dancing, playing pool, and visiting construction sites.
Gene is predeceased by two infant sons; five brothers, Maurice, Henry, Leo, Wilfred, and Joseph Gilbert; five sisters, Roseaime Lacasse, Alma Cormier, Georgianna Ricard, Beatrice Beaudoin-Bedell, and Victoria Blake.
Besides his wife Rachel of 69 years, Gene is survived by his son Paul Gilbert and his wife Marilyn of Ellington, CT; two daughters, Helen Nickel and her husband Rick of Battlement-Mesa, CO, and Marie Anne Mills and her husband Frank of Laconia; six grandchildren, Janel Welch and her husband Robert of Brockport, NY, Shelley McNamee and her husband Robert of Tolland, CT, Lisa Alden and her husband Louis of Almagordo, NM, Sherry Quinn and her husband Michael of Burlington, MA, Blaine Ballantyne and his wife Jill of Tomah, WI, Karen Taylor and her husband Troy of Rochester, NH; eight great-grandchildren, Bryanna, Killian, Isabelle, and Teagan McNamee, Cord Ballantyne, Sydney and Madison Welch, and Cameron Taylor. Many nieces and nephews also survive Gene.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday April 18th, 2007 at Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue Laconia at 11:00 a.m. Long time friend Rev. Robert Connors, pastor of St. Marguertie D’Youville Church in Dracut, MA celebrated the mass. Rev. Adrien R. Longchamps pastor of Sacred Heart Church concelebrated. Burial will take place later this spring in the family lot at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield Street, Laconia. Visiting hours were on Tuesday April 17th, 2007 from 6-8 p.m. at the Simoneau-Paquette Memorial Home, 139 Church Street, Laconia. Family and friends were invited to attend.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy in Gene’s name may be made to Saint Francis Healthcare Center Patio Fund, 406 Court Street, Laconia, NH 03246, or to Community Health and Hospice, Inc., Memorial Gifts, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246 visit www.chhnh.org or to Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 7312, Gilford, NH 03247-7312