Joseph Raymond Bedard

Joseph Raymond Bedard, 91, of East Hartford, beloved husband of Irene (Gagne) Bedard passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 18, 2015 surrounded by his loving family after fighting a long, courageous battle with cancer. Born on Dec. 28, 1923 in Lawrence, MA, Ray was the son of Canadian immigrants Arthur and Alphonsine Bedard and the seventh of ten children. He was predeceased by all six of his brothers and one sister. At the age of 16, Ray entered the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. A veteran of WW II, Ray served with the U.S. Army Infantry and participated in five military campaigns in Europe. He survived the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France at Omaha Beach, and the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest of Luxembourg. His survival of the D Day Invasion may have been foretold by the miracle of meeting his older brother on the beach at Normandy after not seeing him for three years. Ray was awarded 3 Bronze Star Medals, and the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. His parents were awarded the Massachusetts Governor's Citation for having five sons in the military service during WW II. In 1951, Ray went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as a Letter Carrier in the Greater Hartford area, delivering mainly in the cities of Hartford and West Hartford, where he remained until he retired in 1985. Ray's life centered around his family, and in retirement he enjoyed them and their activities and traveling. Ray had a passion for horseracing, playing card games, and baseball. He enjoyed teasing Red Sox fans, since he was a Yankee fan. In September of 1948 he married the love of his life, Irene Gagne of Lawrence, MA. They were married for 67 years and had six children: Richard Bedard of East Hartford, Thomas Bedard of East Hartford, Elaine Robinson and her husband Michael of Natick, MA, Joan Rogers and her husband Michael of Simsbury, David Bedard and his wife Lisa of East Hartford, and Gloria Barry and her husband Jim of Coventry. Ray is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Stephanie Dumont, Michael Andre (Neon) Robinson, James Barry, Evan Bedard, Sarah Rogers, Zack Barry, Jacqueline Bedard, Elliot Rogers and Matthew Wakelee, and many nieces and nephews. Ray also leaves his best friend, Paul Arnini of Rocky Hill. Ray will be deeply missed by his entire family and friends. Funeral service will be Friday (October 23rd) with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, Cambridge Drive, East Hartford. (Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church on Friday morning). Burial with military honors will follow at Veteran's Memorial Field #2-Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford on Thursday (October 22nd) from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ray's name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66676, or to the Disabled American Veterans, 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 315, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or to the Patriot Guard Riders of CT, c/o Marcia Young, Treasurer, 8 Brenda Lane, Old Saybrook, CT 06475. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.