Rev. Charles A. Gendron

GENDRON, Rev. Charles A., M.S. Reverend Charles A. Gendron, M.S., 87, of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, Hartford, died Thursday, (June 23, 2005) at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. He was born June 27, 1917 in Cohoes, NY, the son of the late Joseph and Rose (Chamberland) Gendron. He attended local schools in Cohoes before entering the La Salette Apostolic High School in Hartford in 1932. He made his first profession of vows in Bloomfield on July 2,1939 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1944. His first assignment was to Immaculate Conception Parish in Holyoke, MA as associate pastor. As a young priest he volunteered for the missions and sailed for Burma (Myanmar) on the SS Sea Phoenix in 1946. In Burma he worked tirelessly in Prome, Thayetmyo, Akyab and Buram where the seeds and spirit of the La Salette Missionaries were planted. After many years of hardship and difficulties under a communist government he was one of the last three La Salette Missionaries in Burma to return to the U.S. in 1976. Over the next 18 years Father Gendron served in the Louisiana parishes of St. Joseph in Vinton, Our Lady of La Salette in DeQuincy, Our Lady of La Salette and Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Sulphur and Our Lady of Sorrows in Jacksonville, TX. In 2001 he was assigned to Hartford House in Hartford. In addition to his La Salette Community, Father Gendron is survived by a sister, Toni Gendron and a sister-in-law, Dee Gendron of Latham, NY and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Thomas, Norman and Joseph and a sister, Jean Gregory. A Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated at 11 a.m. June 27, at Hartford House Chapel, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Visiting hours are from 9:30-10:45 a.m. on Monday, June 27, at Hartford House, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford. Contributions in his memory may be made to: Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114-2330. The Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home has care of arrangements.