1925 – 2014

LEWISTON — Gerard T. Thibodeau, 89, a former long-time resident of 56 Androscoggin Avenue and more recently of Montello Heights, died Sunday morning, Nov. 2, All Souls Day, at Ouellette’s Adult Foster Home, where he had been a resident for the past five months.

He was born in Lewiston on Oct. 20, 1925, the son of Josephat and Marie Anne Fortier Thibodeau and had been a resident of Lewiston all of his life. He was an Army veteran and was proud to have served with the 66th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. On Sept. 6, 1958, he married the former Marie Paule Filion. They were married for 42 years before her passing on Dec. 15, 2000. He was a life-long member of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and a member of St. Peter’s Society. Gerard worked as a sole layer at Shapiro Brothers Shoe Factory for over 30 years until it closed. He then worked as a janitor, first at Bates College and then at Lewiston High School, before retiring in 1988.

He was a gentle, unassuming man who enjoyed the simple things in life especially his family and he will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his daughter, Lisa-Marie and her husband, Mark C. Labonte, of Lewiston; four grandsons, Justin and Matthew Labonte, both of Boston, and Christian and Gabriel Labonte of Lewiston; his sister, Rita Vallee of Lewiston; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Larose of Auburn and Jenille Thibodeau of Lewiston; and many nieces and nephews.

His family would like to thank all of the nurses and health aides from Androscoggin Home Health who assisted Gerard during the past five years. We would like to express a special thank-you to Louise Triggiani R.N., Jeannine Bissonnette, Dr. Jeffrey Brown, Dr. Margaret Matthews, along with Ron Ouellette and his staff for their exceptional care and compassion.