Obituary for Rene Cormier – MA

GARDNER – Rene J. Cormier, 90, of 45 Grant St., Gardner, died Saturday, April 12, at Heywood Hospital, Gardner.

He was born on July 2, 1917 in Canada to the late Amedee and Josephine (Babineau) Cormier.

He served in the United States Army during World War II as a corporal with Battery C, 552nd Field Artillery Battalion. He was involved in the following battles and campaigns: Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland. He received the Good Conduct Ribbon, the EAME Campaign Ribbon with five battle stars, the Victory Medal, and the Occupation Ribbon. He was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945.

A resident of Gardner for more than 72 years and a native of Leominster, Mr. Cormier was employed as a carpenter at the former East Gardner State Hospital and at Rutland State Hospital.

He was an active member of Sacred Heart Church as a lecturer and Eucharistic minister. He attended morning mass daily, was involved in the church choir, and was a soloist at many weddings and funerals. He was a member of the Perpetual Adoration Society and prayed the rosary with a prayer group every day after mass.

Mr. Cormier was a former member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. As Eucharistic minister, he brought communion to the shut-ins and visited them regularly. Mr. Cormier was a past president and member of the Sacred Heart Retreat League.

Rene was known as a handyman who built his own summer home. He enjoyed spending time with his loving family and was an avid bowler.

His wife Ingrid (Wironen) Cormier died on November 2, 1993.

He is survived by a daughter, Jean C. Allain and her husband, Donald, of Standish, Maine; two sons, Paul R. Cormier and his wife, Gail, of Gardner, Jay Gold of Clearwater, Florida; two sisters, Lorette Richard of St. Anthony, New Brunswick, Canada, and Louise Sontag of Fitchburg; four grandchildren, Jay Cormier of Gardner, Christopher Allain of Westbrook, Maine, Michelle LaBella of Westbrook, Maine, and Matthew Allain of Montana; and two great-granddaughters.

CORMIER — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Sacred Heart Church, 166 Cross St., Gardner. Burial will be at a later date in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the John H. Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent in his name to Sacred Heart School, 53 Lynde St., Gardner, MA 01440. For more information or to sign our online guest book, please visit www.mackfuneralhome.com. The John H. Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner, is handling arrangements