Gerard E. E. Labbe

Gerard Emilio Eugene Labbe, 64 of Wells passed away peacefully Friday morning surrounded by his family at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Gerard was born June 29, 1945 in Oran Algeria, the son of Emilio, a native Canadian who was fighting for the United States during World War II, and Madeleine (Lorenzo) Labbe of French Algeria. He and his mother came to the United States the following year on a Red Cross Ship with other War Brides entering through Ellis Island and they settled in Sanford, Maine where Gerard grew up. He became a naturalized citizen at the age of 13. He was educated in Sanford schools graduating from Sanford High in 1963. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968. He received a business degree through the GI Bill at the University of Southern Maine. He owned and operated Jerry's Billiard Parlor from 1970 to 1975 when he liquidated, keeping a pool table for himself. All his life he loved playing pool, and he was good at it! After working in management at Lums Restaurant in Westbrook and South Portland from 1976 - 1980 he began his career in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Submarine Maintenance Engineering Planning and Procurement Activities (SUBMEPP) as a Logistics Management Specialist retiring in 2005 as an Engineering Technician. During his career he received multiple awards for his performance, leadership and contributions. In 1980 he joined the Air National Guard at Pease Air Force Base retiring in 2005 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and in receipt of a Certificate of Appreciation from President Bill Clinton for his honorable service. He was reunited with his high school sweetheart and the love of his life Janie Vennell in 1974. They were married in 1975 and recently celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. Together they raised six children with love, patience, strong Christian family values, and a sense of adventure. When they were first married Gerard attended school nights while Janie worked days. He played the role of Mr. Mom and loved it. His children have wonderful memories of days at the lake, sledding, building ice forts, and ice-skating. Gerard adored his family. He had special and individual relationships with each of his children and they remember him as being the best Dad anyone could hope for. His 16 grandchildren were his pride and joy. He always made time for them. He loved having one-on-ones with each of them, whether it was taking them to their first Red Sox game at Fenway (he was an avid fan!), a Sea Dogs game, dinner and a movie, planting a garden, building bird feeders, attending their sporting events, ballet recitals, concerts, or just spending special alone time with their Grampa. Gerard loved annual camping trips; this year would have been his 30th at Papoose Pond Campground in western Maine where he so loved to take his kayak out for a paddle, sing karaoke, play volleyball and throw horseshoes. He had won the horseshoe tournament for several years in a row. He was known by family and friends as "La Legende." From the time he was a little boy he loved to garden. Upon receiving the Starfish Award in 2007 for his work with physically disabled gardeners he said, "As a kid we were poor...my mother taught me to plant beans and cucumbers. With six kids of my own, I gave them each a square in the garden to grow their own things." He treasured his time in his vegetable and flower gardens; it was his favorite place to be. Upon retiring he became a Master Gardener through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. He is the only person to ever have received both the Master Gardener Rookie of the year and the Master Gardener of the year awards. Gerard participated in the Garden Angel Project and Frank Werthiam, Associate Professor, recently called his work "extraordinary." Gerard always went beyond the call of duty-if he came over to help you garden, he ended up taking on a few other projects here and there and most importantly he built relationships with the people he worked with. He listened and he shared of his own life experiences. In 2007 Gerard created the Master Gardener website and acted as Webmaster until his death.Gerard loved his church. He was a dedicated, spiritual member and leader at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in East Waterboro serving on their Bishop's Committee and as Treasurer until transferring to Trinity Episcopal Church Saco in 1989. There, he continued his devotion to God and his Christian community by serving on the vestry, creating and maintaining their website (trinitysaco.org), planting and maintaining the church gardens, and as their senior warden from January 2007 to the present. Everyone loved and appreciated this wonderful man, and he appreciated them in turn. Over the years he planned and hosted dinners honoring the ECW (Episcopal Church Women), and the Men's Group. Gerard is survived by his wife, Janie Labbe of Wells, and his six children and their families: Angie Butzer, her husband Scott and their children Emily, Evan and Eliza of Exeter, NH; Charles Hall, his wife Kristi and their children Kathryn, Benjamin, and Elizabeth of Cumberland; Denise Davis, her husband Scott and her children Calvin, Kelcy, Caleb, and Grace of N. Waterboro; Kim Andrews, her husband Wade and their children Ryan, Joshua, and Tanner of Newfield; Cammie Savage, her husband Eric and their children Julia and Caroline of Exeter, NH.; and Jenna Labbe-Watson, her husband Jesse and their daughter Scarlet of Rockland. His mother, Madeleine Gillings and his sister Vivian Turgeon, both of Springvale, also survive him.Gerard wanted so much to improve upon the world and he did this over a lifetime of generosity, thoughtfulness and selflessness. In his final days he remarked that these same attributes were present in his children and grandchildren and that gave him a deep sense of peace. That is Gerard's legacy and we, his family, are proud to carry it on.Relatives and friends are invited to call on Monday from 4-7 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A Requiem Eucharist and Burial Office will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 PM at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 15 Cleveland Street, Saco, with the Rev. David Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Ocean View Cemetery in Wells.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, Suite F #227, 1659 Branham Lane, San Jose, CA, 95118-5526, www.coalitionforpf.org. Condolences may be expressed at the Condolences tab at left.Arrangements are under the direction of the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford.