Gilberte Cecile Rivard, 74, a longtime resident of Derry, passed away Friday, April 2, 2010 at the Parkland Medical Center. Born in New Brunswick, Canada March 3, 1936 to the late Henry and Agathe (Durepot) Perrault.
Mrs. Rivard spent her entire life devoted to her home and her family. There was nothing more important then taking care of her family and she took tremendous pride in being a mother and wife. She had a heart of gold and always had a contagious smile. Gilberte enjoyed knitting, spending time reading the Bible and trying to help those less fortunate then herself. She was always giving to worthy causes and her kind manners brought her to become an active communicant of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. She was a proud member of the Ladies of Isabelle, but above all else, she devoted herself to her loving family.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Lionel Gagne in 1975, and by her second husband, Robert J. Rivard in 2003 after 27 years of marriage.
She leaves her beloved children, Sandra Smith of Bull Gap, TN, Roberta Birdseye of New London, CT, Michael Rivard of Peru, ME, Barbara Fonda of Taberg, NY, Renaud Gagne of Derry, NH, Patrick Rivard of Albany Township, ME, Denise Bruscato of Raymond, NH, and Paul Gagne of Derry, NH. She also leaves her siblings, Charline Boyd, Patricia Rhymer, Gilbert Perreault and was predeceased by her brother, Patrick Boyd. She also leaves her 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were held on Tuesday, April 6th from 5-8pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St. Derry. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday at 10am in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 26 Crystal Ave, Derry with burial held Thursday in Canada. Donations in memory of Mrs. Rivard may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.