Robert J. “Bob” Rivard, 71, of Franklin Street, Derry, NH died Tuesday January 14, 2003 at the Parkland Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family following a brief illness. He was born in St. Leonard, New Brunswick, Canada on December 6, 1931, a son of the late Rudolphe and Cecile (Bouchard) Rivard. He was a resident of Derry for 15 years, formerly living in Methuen, MA. He was employed as a railroad agent for Canadian National Railroad in Canada. He also worked as a supervisor for the former McLean Trucking of Connecticut and Yellow Trucking of N. Andover, MA. He was a machine operator for Hawk Quality Products in Derry. He was an avid newspaper reader and enjoyed spending time with his family. Mr. Rivard was a communicant of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry.
He is survived by his wife, Gilberte C. (Perreault) Rivard, Derry, four sons, Mike Rivard, Maine, Renaud Gagne, Derry, Patrick Rivard, Maine, Paul Gagne, Derry, four daughters, Sandra Smith, Tennessee, Ruby Birdseye, Connecticut, Barbara Fonda, New York, Denise Bruscato, Raymond, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, five brothers, Ronald Rivard, Spokane, WA, Roger Rivard, Cobourg, Ont. Canada, Conrad Rivard, Plainville, CT, Gilles Rivard, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Gerald Rivard, Quebec, Quebec, Canada, five sisters, Lucille Dubay, Van Buren, ME, Rachel Dion, L’Original, Ontario, Canada, Muriel Rivard, Smithers, British Columbia, Canada, Carol Rivard, Spokane, WA, Marguerite Williams, Mirable, Quebec, Canada, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Annette (Violette) Rivard in 1975.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday January 18th at 2:00pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Crystal Avenue, Derry with cremation to follow. Friends may call on Friday from 6 – 9 pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH.