Laconia-----Gerard P. St. Hilaire, 88, died on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the New Hampshire Veterans Home, Tilton.
Mr. St. Hilaire was born June 10, 1922 in Lewiston, Maine, the son of Elie and Josephine (Grenier) St. Hilaire. He lived in Melrose, Mass. for many years before moving to the Lakes Region twenty-six years ago.
Mr. St. Hilaire graduated from Boston University. He was a pilot in the U. S. Army Air Corps during WWII and was a member of the 459th Bomb Group, 756th Bomb Squadron and was shot down over Czechoslovakia while on his 27th bombing mission. They were rescued by the Partisans, staying with them for three months.
Mr. St. Hilaire had been employed at United Carr/Division of TRW, in Cambridge, Mass. for over thirty-three years before retiring in June of 1984.
Mr. St. Hilaire was a communicant of Our Lady of the Lakes Church. He loved all sports and was an avid golfer. While in high school, he played football, baseball and hockey. He loved to watch the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
Mr. St. Hilaire is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Margaret “Peggy” (Flagler) St. Hilaire, of Laconia; a brother, Roland, and several nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents, Mr. St. Hilaire was predeceased by four brothers, Lauzard, Rolando, Maurice and Lucin and by two sisters, Gaetan Begin and Jean Waugh.
Calling hours will be held Monday, June 14, 2010 from 6:00-8:00PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 11:00AM at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington Street, Lakeport, N.H.
Burial will be in the N.H. State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, N.H. on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 11:00AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the N.H. Veterans Home, 139 Winter Street, Tilton, N. H. 03276 or to the Beacon Hospice, 70 Commercial St., Suite 400, Concord, NH 03301.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.