Gerard A. Belanger

Gerard A. Belanger 1929-2024 SANFORD—Gerard A. Belanger, 94, of Sanford, died Thursday, January 4, 2024 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. He was born in Sanford, September 8, 1929 the son of Stanislas and Marie Anne (Guillemette) Belanger. He grew up in Sanford and was educated in local schools. Gerard started working at an early age in the shoe shops but soon became a skilled carpenter. Most of his career, he was self-employed and became a jack-of-all-trades. He built houses for many, the first one being his own and his three daughters. He was a true handyman, fixing anything and everything. He was always helping his friends and neighbors with their projects and volunteered countless hours at Holy Family Church. Gerard enjoyed playing cards, gardening, bingo, making people laugh, listening to music and could often be heard singing. Mr. Belanger was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict. He married Marie Thibodeau in 1956 and together they raised three daughters. They were married for 66 years at the time of Marie’s passing in 2022. Gerard was predeceased by his wife; his brothers, Henry, Leo, Emile and Roland Belanger. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Kelly and her husband John of Sanford, Cathy Bergeron and her husband Craig of Ipswich, MA and Sandra Desrochers and her husband Norman of Sanford; his grandchildren, Allyssa Croce and her husband Rob, Shawna Kelly and her fiancé Brian Nazzaro, Krista Kelly and her husband Tom Tabb, Jennifer Bergeron and her husband Jacob, Maegan Bergeron, Brett Bergeron, Kyle Desrochers and his wife Renée and Brianna Kaulbach and her husband Ryan Kaulbach; his siblings, Irene Melanson of Sanford, Rose Melanson of Sanford, Lorraine Thibodeau of Sanford and Raymond Belanger of Waterboro; six great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge the staff at Pinnacle Health and Rehab along with the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House and thank them for the loving care, compassion and kindness that they provided for Gerard. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church on Friday, January 12, at 11:00 am. Spring burial will be at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Those planning on expression of sympathy, please consider making a memorial donation to Hospice of Southern Maine at 390 US Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074, or online at www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/donate.