Bertrand A. Chouinard
WELLS, MAINE – Bertrand A. Chouinard, 87, of Wells, Maine and Clearwater, FL, died on Sept. 29, 2020 after a battle with leukemia. Bert was born just before Christmas 1932 to Albert and Rose (Morin) Chouinard in Graniteville, VT. Over his lifetime he lived in Nashua and Hudson, NH, Wells, ME, and Clearwater, FL.
As a youth, he attended school in Alfred, ME with the Brothers of Christian Instruction. In his teen years, he worked in the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry in Vermont, alongside his father. Bert later served in the United States Army for two years and was stationed in Texas and Panama. After his military service, he settled in Nashua, NH where he met his wife Shirley, and they were married in 1961. Bert was employed for 46 years at Bronze Craft, a foundry in Nashua, advancing in his career from a pieceworker to industrial engineer before he retired in 1998.
He loved carpentry, camping, billiards, and playing harmonica with the Gulfport Senior Citizens Harmonica Club. Bert loved reminiscing and was especially proud of his French-Canadian heritage; He made many trips to Canada over his lifetime. Bert had the “gift of the gab” and loved to strike up conversation at any moment with anyone.
Bert was generous with his time, talent, and treasure, always finding ways to help neighbors and his community, and often volunteering with his wife Shirley at Atria Senior Living in Kennebunk, ME. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wells, ME and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater, FL. Bert was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
His family includes his wife, Shirley (Galipeau) Chouinard, of Wells, ME and Clearwater, FL;son Christopher Chouinard and his partner Harold Rodriguez of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and son Jonathan Chouinard, his wife Amy, and grandsons, Carter, Aidan, and Grady, all of Goffstown, NH.
He was predeceased by his older brother Roland Chouinard, but is survived by three sisters and one brother: Sr. Marcelle Chouinard of Holiday, FL, Terry Lapointe of Hudson, FL, Sr. Pauline Chouinard of Oldsmar, FL, and Gerard Chouinard of Tampa, FL and his wife Terri-Lynn. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Jaqueline Chouinard, and a brother-in-law, Charles Colletta, both of Nashua, as well as many cousins, three nieces, and five nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Wells, Maine. Services are private due to Covid-19 restrictions, however the Mass can be seen live on the web at www.holyspiritme.org/mass-live-st-mary. The family is planning a post-pandemic “Celebration of Life” for a larger gathering of loved ones and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth. You may contribute at www.youthranches.org or by calling (800) 765-3797.