George O. Gentes, 86, of Manchester, died January 14, 2009 at Mt. Carmel Nursing Home after a period of declining health.
He was born in Manchester, November 22, 1923, and was the son of George J. and Robella (Anger) Gentes. He was educated in local schools and earned an Associate degree in Fire Science from the NH Vocational Technical School in Laconia.
Mr. Gentes was a member of the Manchester Fire Department from 1946 until 1984. He retired as a Captain after 37 ½ years of service, station 5 being his last assignment.
He was a member of the Manchester Retired Fire Fighters Association, the Manchester Relief Association; NH State Permanent Fire fighters Association; NH State Forest Fire Wardens Association; Firefighters Local 856 AFL-CIO and a past member of the NH Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc.
He was a communicant of St. Joseph Cathedral.
He leaves his wife of 66 years, Hermine (Robert) Gentes of Manchester; five children, Vivian Gentes of Rindge, Nancy Gentes of Manchester, Theresa Crosby and her husband, Steve, of Manchester, Constance Hartley and her husband, Craig, of Hooksett, and Donald Gentes of Manchester; a brother, Roger Gentes and his wife, Simonne, of Manchester; five grandchildren, Jesse J. Gentes of Hooksett, Shawn Collins of Newport Center, VT, Jennifer Collins, Travis Gentes, and Kathleen Gentes, all of Manchester; four great granddaughters and two great grandsons; two nieces, Susan Ramos of Auburn and Janet Chase of Goffstown; two great nephews, Leonard Faucher Jr. of Connecticut and Richard Anderson of Georgia. He was predeceased by a son, Ronald L. Gentes, in 2006.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, January 17, 2009 at St. Joseph Cathedral. A committal service followed in Mt. Calvary Mausoleum.
Memorial donations may be made to the Precious Blood Monastery, 700 Bridge St., Manchester, NH 03104.