Elmer Gendreau

1935 - 2022

Elmer Gendreau, 86, of East Hartford, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 30, 2022. He was the beloved husband for 62 years, of Omerine (Gagnon) Gendreau. Born in Madawaska, Maine, on December 11, 1935, son of the late Willie and Yvonne (Caron) Gendreau, he relocated to Connecticut in 1951. Elmer served in the Marine Corps, 1956 to 1958 and was stationed at Iwakanuie, Okinowa, Japan and in the Philippines. While in Japan, he received meritorious promotion to corporal. He was extremely proud of the years he spent in the Marine Corps. He was a Marine's Marine, and held the Corps in the highest regard and was proud of his lifetime membership in the Marine Corps League- Hardware City Detachment, New Britain. For 40 years he was a hair stylist on Park St., Hartford and retired in February 1999, after 30 years as owner of Elmer's Barber and Styling Shop in the Parkville section of Hartford. A devout Catholic, he was a member of St. Christopher's Church, East Hartford, and was a past Grand Knight of the Rev. Fleming Council, Glastonbury, and a Sir Knight of 4th Degree Council, Hartford. He was past vice president and board member of Franam, Inc., for many years. He leaves two loving daughters and a loving son, Elaine Arnson and her husband Jeff of Manchester, Tina Paradis and husband Jeff of East Hartford, and Douglas Gendreau and fiancée Sue Luiz; 10 grandchildren Amy and her husband Brendan Deane, Keith and Olivia Arnson, Jennifer, Kevin and Danielle Paradis and partner Mark Verrilli, Amber and her husband EJ Gilnak, Shannon and partner Steve Shaw, Michael Gendreau, and Chelsea Luiz and fiancée Sage Camaron, and great granddaughter Avia Lee Verrilli-Paradis. He also leaves two brothers, Lionel Gendreau and his wife Donna of Enfield and Alcide Gendreau of Newington and a sister Joan Plourde of Frenchville, ME, and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sisters Gladys, Gertrude, and Irene, and brothers Alphe LeClair, Gilford Gendreau and Lucien Gendreau. Elmer considered Len Persky and Cindy Callis and their children Leah and Lauren Persky, Justin Callis as family. His family would like to thank the team of special care and love from Dr. C. Vigneault, Fresenius Kidney Care, Janet Comeau, special nurses from Trinity Health Hospice, friends and family. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, Nov. 3rd from 5:00 pm – 8:00 p.m. at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. His funeral service will begin on Friday, Nov. 4th at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Christopher's Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. He will be laid to rest with military honors in St. Mary Cemetery, East Hartford. To share a memory, please visit us at www.mulryanfh.com.