Gerard E. "Jerry" Comeau

Gerard Edward "Jerry" Comeau, age 86, passed away in the Norwood Hospital on October 28, 2016. Born in Quincy, Massachusetts on January 9, 1930, he was the son of the late Edward and Eva (Mallett) Comeau. He moved to Islington as a teenager and met Shirley at Westwood High School.
They started dating on the Senior trip to Washington, D.C. in 1947. They became engaged before he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and became a medic in the Korean conflict. Upon his return to the States he used the G.I. Bill to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston for Carpentry. Jerry became a successful contractor and built many homes in the Walpole area.

He was an on-call fireman for 5 years, becoming a permanent Lieutenant fireman on September 1, 1974 and retiring after 26 years on February 1, 1995. He took pride in his role as a fireman and Lieutenant. His service for his country helped him in his service to his community. He trained his crew to always watch out for each other and made sure they had the skills they needed to be safe. He said that he would never ask them to do anything he would not do himself and would often go first. His men had tremendous respect for him and were proud to work by his side. He considered his fellow firefighters his family and throughout life they have been committed to each other.

In retirement, he enjoyed square dancing, dominoes and traveling the country attending Scrappy Pill Korean Veteran reunions. He loved to sing and often did so to the pleasure of his friends and family. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events and spending time with family at the family cottage in Maine. As an excellent cook, he was known for his clam chowder. He was a master cribbage player and was known to "let" people win on occasion so that they would keep playing with him. His grandson Sean was his stiffest competition and was frequently asked if he shuffled the cards properly. Jerry was a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus, cooking and tending bar for guests at the hall for decades.

Beloved husband of the late Shirley Marie (Carr) Comeau for 64 years.
Loving father of Catherine Lew and her husband Michael, Edward Comeau and Sandra, Patricia Comeau, James Comeau, Jean LeSage and her husband Stephen, Julie Dodge and her husband James, Mary Karp and her husband David and Linda Pelrine and her husband James.
Cherished Papa of Edward II, Jason (Nikki), Stephen (Kayla), Jonathan (Olivia), Melissa, Matthew, Jeremy (Aimee), Deana, Joel (Raelynn), Sean, Wyatt and Delaney. Great Grandpa to Max, Beatrice, Anna and Connar.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Eva Comeau, his brothers, Leonard, Paul, Oliver, sister Clarissa and granddaughter Danielle.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Jerry's Life Celebration on Thursday November 3, 2016 from 4-8 PM and Friday, November 4, 2016 from 9-9:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Jude's Church, 86 Main Street, Norfolk, MA on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: the Walpole Fire Gift Account, 20 Stone Street, Walpole, MA 02081.

Known to all as the grouch, he was a man of great strength. He willed himself to stay with us during Shirley's decline and passing to make sure that she was okay. He passed on four months to the day that he lost his beloved wife. They are now reunited in heaven.