Joseph Omer Berthiaume

Joseph O. Berthiaume, age 98, died peacefully at his home at Williamsburg Landing in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Sunday, November 19th, 2023, with his daughter and son-in-law at his bedside. Joe was born on April 27, 1925 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, to the late Amedee Berthiaume and Albina Gravel Berthiaume, who were both of French Canadian descent and whose family’s roots in Canada stretch back to the 17th century. “Chic,” as he was familiarly known to family and friends, spent his entire childhood in Southbridge before joining the U.S. Navy as soon as he turned eighteen in 1943, proudly serving in the Asiatic-Pacific theater during World War II. Upon his discharge in 1946, he enrolled at Clark University under the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor in Business Administration degree. That same year, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gertrude Peloquin, and they spent the next 67 years happily together until Gert’s passing in 2017. Their daughter, Denise, was born in 1957.

Joe worked for 10 years at the Harvey-Wells Electronics Co. in Southbridge, rising to Treasurer before moving to Huntington, Long Island, NY in 1960. There he served in various senior financial management positions for Veeco Instruments, Inc., until his retirement in 1987. His job for Veeco took him to numerous destinations throughout Europe for long stints of several weeks-to months, often accompanied by Gert and Denise.

Upon retirement, Joe and Gert moved to Williamsburg, VA in 1987, where they had extended family connections. Joe thrived on his daily tennis games at the Williamsburg Inn, visiting with friends and neighbors, and volunteering for Williamsburg Meals-on-Wheels and the Williamsburg Community (later Sentara) Hospital. Joe was an avid reader of biographies and fiction, especially spy novels and historical sagas, and never missed a day without The Wall Street Journal. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Joe made music an important part of his life beginning at an early age. He sang in a barbershop quartet and his Navy Unit’s choir as a young man, and throughout his life enjoyed listening to and singing along with tunes from the classic American Standards songbook. Joe and Gert moved to Williamsburg Landing in 2008, where he served on the Residents’ Board for a number of years.

Joe was a devoted member of St. Bede’s parish and was extremely active in the fundraising efforts that led to the building of the new church on Ironbound Road.

Joe is survived by his daughter Denise Berthiaume and son-in-law Jack McKeown, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Online condolences may be shared at www.nelsencares.com.