Joseph A. GIRARD

GILL, Mass. — Joseph A. Girard of Gill, Mass. died on Dec. 1, 2005 at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital after a short illness. He was born on Oct. 8, 1919 in Turners Falls, Mass. He was the youngest of six children of Joseph D. Girard and Marie L. (Brazeau) Girard. He was educated through the 8th grade at St. Anne's Parochial School and graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1938. During his high school years he was employed by Socquet's Hillside Dairy Farm. Later, he worked at Montague Rod and Reel. He was a machinist at the Springfield Armory prior to entering the US Army Air Corps in 1942 as a radio repairman. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after a tour of duty that took him through North Africa, Sicily, Corsica, Italy, and the South of France where he also served as an interpreter for the U.S. Army. In 1946, he married Elaine Whittemore George of Stowe, Vt. who died in 1990. After moving to Gill in 1951, he worked for Stotz Electrical as an electrician and later was hired by Western Massachusetts Electric Company where he worked for many years in sales. Because of his extensive knowledge of the geography Western Massachusetts, he was known as the company "bird dog," helping line crews find downed power lines during storms. He received an Associate Degree in business from Greenfield Community College in 1972. After retiring from WMECo in 1981, he continued to work in electrical consulting through the mid 1990's. During this period, he also worked as building inspector for the towns of Gill, Bernardston, and Northfield. For years, each spring, he, his wife and family enjoyed making maple syrup in Gill. He loved woodworking and woodcutting, and gentleman farming on his property. He completely modernized a 200 year old home in Gill and he and Elaine were vital, engaged members of the community. He was a master electrician and an accomplished carpenter. He loved farming and he was avid conservationist, sportsman, and woodsman. He served the town of Gill on the school committee and the planning board, he was a town constable, a selectman and he was town moderator for many years. He also was a representative member of the Council on Aging.He is survived by one sister, Ernestine LePine of Montague, Mass. and his four children; Susanne Morgan of Cumberland, R.I., Richard of Somerset, Mass., Noreen Lemieux of Gill, Mass., and Nancy Girard of Gilmanton. He has seven grandchildren: Amanda and Alexandra Morgan, Jonathan and Timothy Girard, Seth Lemieux and Kelsey and Cameron Girard Graaskamp, and numerous nieces and nephews.Funeral services, all in Turners Falls, Mass., will be Tuesday Dec. 6 at 9:15 a.m. at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Anne's Church with the Rev. Stanley J. Aksamit, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in St. Anne's Cemetery.Calling hours will be held on Monday, Dec. 5 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.Any memorial donations should be made to ALS Mass. Chapter 75 McNeil Way Suite 201, Dedham, MA 02026 in memory of his beloved wife, Elaine.Sympathy messages available at wwwkostanskifuneralhome.com.