Willard J. Cormier

Southington- Willard Joseph Cormier passed away Wednesday, (November 21, 2007), very peacefully, at the age of 82. He fought a courageous and valiant fight against Alzheimer's and dementia, and passed on to his eternal rest a mere forty days after his wife Joella passed on to her eternal rest on October 12, 2007. Willard was born in Lille, ME in 1925 and most recently his residence was Southington, CT. After graduating from Lille High School as valedictorian he traveled to Chicago, IL to earn his diploma as an electrician and in later years attained the distinction of Master Electrician. He ultimately settled in Manchester, CT and East Hartford, CT after marrying his sweetheart, Joella Mae Michaud. During Willard's working career he worked forty seven years at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT and retired as lead high voltage electrician. Also for twenty two of those years he held a second job at A&P Supermarkets in their package store. Willard was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a terrific family man, husband, and father. In addition to working 60 to 80 hours per week for much of his family life, he also found the time to upgrade many rooms in the five homes that he lived in during his married lifetime. He was a jack-of-all-trades and could build or fix anything. After his working career Willard rested and took life one day at a time. More recently Willard was dealing with his conditions the best that he could. He was cared for lovingly by his wife of nearly fifty one years, Joella, right up to days before she passed to her eternal rest. During his family-rearing years and beyond, he was the best, most reliable man his wife and children could hope for, and he did this with quiet dignity. Willard is recently predeceased by his wife, Joella Mae Cormier (Michaud), and survived by his children, daughter Monique Amanda McCarthy and her husband John (London, England), son Gregory James Cormier and his wife Rebecca (Oak Harbor, WA), and son Jeffrey Willard Cormier and his wife Elise Kabela-Cormier (Southington, CT). Willard was one of thirteen children and he leaves behind four siblings, Edgar Cormier and his wife Rita, Lucille Parent (Cormier), Sister Bertha Cormier from the order of The Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary also known as The Good Shepard Sisters, and Paul Cormier and his wife Germaine. Willard was predeceased by eight of his siblings, including Donat, Reid, Blanche, Medora, Leonide, Normand, James, and Elmer. Willard is also survived by his four grand children, Sean, Amanda, Lisa, and Jeffrey Edward, whom he lovingly called "JC", along with many, many nieces and nephews. Finally, Willard leaves behind countless friends and associates that provided him a lifetime of positive memories, and the tireless special people at Southington Care Center, with special thanks to Dr. Craig Bogdanski.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will also be on Saturday from 1-2 p.m.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 279 New Britain Road, Kensington, CT 06037

Visitation

Date

Time

Saturday, December 1, 2007

1-2 p.m.

Visitation Location

DellaVecchia Funeral Home

211 N. Main St

Southington, CT 06489