LEO MAURICE GENDREAU

BANGOR – Leo Maurice Gendreau, beloved husband, daddy, grampy, papa, poppy and brother was called home to be with his youngest daughter, Gail, Oct. 21, 2009, at his home in Bangor, surrounded by as many family members as could be there. Leo was born Dec. 27, 1934, in St. David, the youngest son of Albert and Leona (Cot‚) Gendreau, deceased, on the family farm. He was in such a hurry he failed to wait for the family doctor thus in the middle of a raging snowstorm was delivered by Aunt Beatrice. Leo came into the world and exited it on his own terms. On Oct. 2, 1947, Leo lost his right leg in a farming accident – he credited his parents with having raised him able to do anything he put his mind to and lived his life that way. He was only 12, but became a man having learned he could do anything he wished thus setting an example for all who knew him. Leo shared his original family with his older brother, Reno Elie, deceased, and his wife, Joan (Landry) and their family; and sisters, Thelma Gendreau Gagnon and her husband, Lawrence, and their family: Rena Gendreau Cyr and her husband, Albenie, deceased, and their family: Omerine LaGasse Clavette and her husband, Clifford and their family: Shirley deceased near age 2 due to pneumonia. Omerine always tiny, truly “little” sister, he nicknamed “Pipsqueak” – just last week Leo was retelling the tricks he and Reno pulled on her. Leo related he was blessed to belong to this family, he was close to each one and their spouses considering each his own sibling, “I am the luckiest man in the world.” In November 1957, he was married to Marilyn Tall, deceased, and together they produced four wonderful children. Katherine May married to Christopher Gallimore and their children, Dana Gallimore Tucker and her husband, Jared, Grant Gallimore and his wife, Emma (Potvin): Leo Maurice II married to Christine (Bailey) and children, Christine Gendreau Jones and her husband, Scott and their daughter, Kymberlie Amber, Heather Gendreau and her daughter, Emily Josephine: Gail Marie, deceased, married to Wayne Googins and son, Curtis Martinez – son of Frank Martinez, deceased: Roland Albert Gendreau and his wife, Kelly (Bowman) and their two sons, Nathan and Noah. His Tall family, Karl and Katherine Tall – “Nanny” and “Grampy,” deceased, and their children, Beverly Tall Sincavage and husband, Robert and their family: Eva Tall: Karl Tall II, deceased, mom of his children, Ann Tall Jones and their sons. In March 1985, he began “keeping company” with Bunny Dunn – in 1997 at the young-at-heart age 62 they wed creating a large blended family – all whom adored him, admired his humor and the way he dealt with life and the challenges he faced. Leo and Bunny were wed Jan. 25 1997, at the 25th celebration of Fran and Jan Doucette – their Dunn daughter and her husband in Old Town. His Dunn family of four wonderful children, Audrey Dunn Wilson and her husband, John and their children, Angela Sanborn and her partner, Gerald Simpson and children, Alex and Katie: Mary Beth Sanborn and her partner, Danette: Amanda Brehm Charette and husband, Brian and their children, Kalob, Amanda and Julianna. Lee Dunn Shirland and her husband, Tom Sr. and children, Tom Shirland Jr. and wife, Stacy and children, Catherine and Autumn, Christopher Shirland and wife, Wendy and children, Ashley and Jacob: Cheryl Shirland Greer and husband, Walter and expected son, Malcolm. Janet Dunn Doucette and husband C. Francis and children, Joshua Doucette and wife, Jessica and son, Brodi, Jillian Doucette Dupuis and husband, Christopher and children, Carsyn and Mallory. John E. Dunn II and wife, Melissa and son, Scott A. Dunn II. His Dunn/Crossman family, Wilfred (Red) Crossman and wife, Margie and their children, Fran Crossman McLaughlin and husband, Robert, deceased, and their children: Valerie Crossman McMillan and husband, Leroy, deceased, and their children: Judith Crossman Dahl and husband, Jon and children: Cheryl Crossman Vigneault, Lexi and best friend, Burleigh Vigneault “Billy.” Leo is also survived by three aunts, Irene Cot‚, Cecile St. Pierre and Corinne Myers; niece, Linda Lare and nephew, Alan Cyr, always seemed to be at Uncle Leo and Aunt Bunny’s elbow when then had a party, or a need to park a car, or retrieve the car from parking. We could not have accomplished all we did without our Lord, our family and friends and New Hope Hospice Relatives and friends and welcome to call 5-8pm Sunday, Oct. 25, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, York Street, Bangor. Interment will be after at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Ohio Street, Bangor. After the service, relatives and friends are welcome to share conversation and refreshments at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor. Those wishing to remember Leo in a special way may make gifts in the name of his daughter, Gail Gendreau Googins, to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, attention Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.