Gerard "Gerry" Parent

Gerard (Gerry) Parent, a resident of Vernon, CT, passed away on February 8, 2026. He was 93 years old.

Gerry came from a very small, mostly French speaking mill town called Albion, in Lincoln Rhode Island. At 19 he entered the Air Force, and earned Sargent rank working as a plane mechanic stationed in Japan during the Korean war,1952-1956. He was honorably discharged and continued in the reserves until 1960. He remained a proud veteran.

Gerry met his beloved wife Lorraine at a dance and made a date even though his future mother-in-law told him Lorraine couldn't come to the phone because she was washing her hair (she was). They married a year later and moved to Enfield Connecticut for Gerry's job at Pratt & Whitney. Their first house in Enfield was pink, with red roses and a white picket fence. They remained together for 68 years, until their parting at his death.

Gerry left Pratt & Whitney 2nd shift for a day job as a letter carrier, and worked at the USPS for 30 years, rising through the ranks to Postmaster in Granby, Suffield and finally Swansea Massachusetts in1984. Gerry was a devoted husband, father and "Pepere" who loved to take care of his family, putter around houses, tinker with cars, invent an occasional useful tool and shop around for good deals. He was a hockey dad and built a skating rink in our Enfield back yard, which all the neighborhood kids enjoyed. Gerry was most proud of the beautiful cape he and Lorraine built for themselves in Swansea Massachusetts, "the nicest house anyone in our family has ever had."

Gerry's wife Lorraine, daughter Denise Parent, son and daughter-in-law Marc and Tracey Parent, and granddaughter Erika Parent are eternally grateful for his (persistent) advice, his sprightly presence in our lives, his dedicated unconditional love and deep generosity.

Gerry was preceded in death by: his parents Wilfrid and Irene (Desrosiers) Parent; his sister Fernande and brother-in-law Roland Cormier; and his brother, Roger Parent. Gerry's mom, our "Memere Parent" and sister Fern were present in spirit/on his mind during his illness and last days.

In addition to his wife and children, Gerry is survived by: his sister Lorraine Bernier-Mann (Florida/Ohio); his dear cousin Philip Desrosiers (Rhode Island); Roger's wife, his sister-in-law Mary Parent (California); his brother-in-law Robert Lavoie and wife Nancy (Rhode Island); his nephew George Cormier and wife Joyce (Vermont); and good neighbors Harry and Ronna Lee DeLisle, who looked out for him and Lorraine when they came to Vernon.

Friends and family are invited to Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Road in Vernon, CT for calling hours on Sunday, February 22 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM. His memorial service will follow at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: the Vernon Senior Center, 135 Bolton Road, Vernon, CT 06066 where he especially enjoyed events for Veterans; or to Blessed Sacrament Parish - St. Bernard Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Vernon-Rockville, CT 06066-3217. A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for this summer at St. Ambrose parish in Albion, Rhode Island, Gerry's original parish and the burial place of his parents.

The family would like to thank Manchester Memorial Hospital, Always Best Care, and APRN Vivian Okam and her team at Complete Care at Fox Hill for the care and support they provided.