Gilles J. (TOP) Arsenault, 58, of Gardner, died suddenly Thursday, January 4, 2018, in Heywood Hospital of Gardner, after being stricken ill at home.
Gilles was born in Gardner on February 22, 1959, the son of the late Francois and Bertha (Belliveau) Arsenault.
He graduated from Gardner High School with Class of 1977.
After serving 23 years in the Army National Guard, Gilles retired from Alpha Company as an E-8 1st Sergeant. Following his retirement, he became a self-employed upholsterer who owned and operated Arsenault’s Custom Upholstery for the past 17 years.
Gilles was a member of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. He was also an active member of Holy Spirit Church for many years, where he served as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Confirmation Instructor, and member of the Finance Committee. He was also in charge of the annual ‘Fish Fry’ during Lent, and took great pride in decorating the Church each year for the Christmas season.
Gilles was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed camping and hunting. He loved spending time with his family, and enjoyed cookouts with family and friends. Gilles treasured spending time with his six granddaughters. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He leaves his wife of 37 years, Kathleen M. (Jean) Arsenault, of Gardner; two sons, David M. Arsenault and his wife Tiffany of Phillipston, and Jeremy S. Arsenault and his wife Danielle of Gardner; one daughter, Nicole M. Arsenault of Gardner; one brother, Claude Arsenault and his wife Palmyer of Hyannis; two sisters, Jackie Arsenault of Gardner, and Lisa Arsenault of Indiana; six granddaughters, Trinity N. Arsenault, Savanna M. Arsenault, Haleigh J. Arsenault, Nevaeh Soto, Kirstyn M. Arsenault and Nyomi Soto; one sister-in-law, Karen Chandler and her husband Robert of Quechee, VT; two aunts, Georgette Leger of Rochester, NY, and Yvonne Daigle of Gardner who was also his Godmother; three nephews, Jason Arsenault of Hyannis, Connor and Brent Chandler of Quechee, VT; and several cousins.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, January 11th from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner with a Mass at 12:30 p.m. in Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial will be in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, January 10th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ryan Patrick Jones Heart of a Hero Foundation, 127 State Road W., Westminster, MA 01473. Please reference in memory of Gilles J. Arsenault.