STURBRIDGE-Robert George Gonyea of Sturbridge passed away peacefully Saturday morning, October 4, 2008 after a short but courageous battle with cancer. He was 81 years old.
He is survived by his beloved wife Winifred Louise (Nordstrom) Gonyea, with whom he would have celebrated 59 years of Marriage on October 29th. He is also survived by two sons: Raymond M. Gonyea of Southbridge, his wife Colleen and their children, Cailin, Simon and Connor; and Dale R. Gonyea of Worcester, and his partner Adam Stanhope. He is also survived by three sisters: Edith MacDonald of Boylston, Eleanor Reynolds of Worcester and Irene Kwiatkowski of Tennessee. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas and his sister, Loretta Maskie, who passed away in August.
He was born and raised in Worcester, the youngest child of the late Thomas and Elsie (Gordon) Gonyea. He attended South High School in Worcester, before enrolling in the U.S. Navy during WW II. After serving on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Tarawa in the Pacific Theater, he was given his honorable discharge. Upon his return to Worcester, he graduated from the former Commerce High School, where he met his soon to be wife. During the Korean War, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ, earning the rank of Master Sergeant. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he received his degree in accounting from the Worcester School of Business Science.
He was the former Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Brothers Construction Company of N. Oxford, and was working as the bookkeeper and accountant for Greenwood Auto in Leicester until his illness.
Mr. Gonyea was involved with sports throughout his lifetime, playing football, basketball and baseball through his high school years. He also played semi-pro football for the Webster Square Merchants, where he starred as a fullback. Later on, he coached in the Sturbridge Little League, Intermediate League and Babe Ruth League. He also loved to fish, and was an avid fan of the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics.
Mr. Gonyea was a member of St. Anne & St Patrick’s Parish in Fiskdale for over 20 years and was a dedicated volunteer, ordained Eucharistic Minister and Religious Education Teacher. He was also a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Southbridge for the last several years. He also served on the Town of Sturbridge Finance Committee.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours from 4 to 7 PM on Tuesday, October 7th at LINDQUIST LUNDIN FUNERAL HOME, 36 Butler St., Worcester. His Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, October 8th at 10:00 AM at St. Catherine of Sweden Church, 1 Wiser Avenue, Worcester followed by his burial in New Swedish Cemetery in Worcester. For directions and online guest book please visit www.lindquistlundin.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.