Giles Albert Charland

Devoted to his family

WATERTOWN- It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that the family of Giles A. Charland, age 95, announce his peaceful passing on Thursday, October 24th, 2024, at Saint Mary’s Hospital. He was the widower of Eleanor (Coer) Charland, his beloved wife of 65 years who passed in 2020.

Giles was born on November 19th, 1928, in Bromptonville, Canada, the son of the late Albert and Imelda (Guillemette) Charland. After living an idyllic childhood in Lyndonville, VT, his family moved to Bristol, CT when he was twelve. As a young man he joined the Army during WWII and proudly served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne 504 Paratrooper Infantry Division in Italy before being honorably discharged in 1949. He met and married his wife, Eleanor, in 1955 and shared 65 years of marriage together. Giles completed an apprenticeship in tool design and then worked as a draftsman in Scovill Manufacturing. He later worked in Ansonia at Anaconda American Brass as a Project Engineer before retiring in 1985. Giles and Ellie travelled quite often in their motor home and then later became snowbirds and spent many winters in Spring Hill Florida. Giles enjoyed fishing, archery, karate (he was a honorary black belt), golf, playing pool and playing cards with Ellie and friends, over the years. Giles also enjoyed skydiving and took his final jump at the age of 70. He and Ellie were devout Catholics and longtime members of St. John the Evangelist Church in Watertown. They prayed their rosary daily and had a strong faith in God.

Left to cherish his memories, Giles leaves behind his 5 children: Suzanne Hoyt and her husband Richard of Watertown, Michael Charland of Waterbury, Lisa Hanson and her husband Scott of Watertown, Glen Charland and his wife Janet of Myrtle Beach, SC and Garth Charland and his wife Teresa of Thomaston. Giles and Ellie were blessed with 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, 2 great- great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Other than his beloved wife, Eleanor, he is also predeceased by his sister, Rita Silva.

Funeral services for Mr. Charland will be held on Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 10:00AM when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Disciples Parish, St John the Evangelist Church, 574 Main Street, Watertown, CT 06795. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery located at 699 Platt Road in Watertown, where Military Honors will be accorded to Giles for his devoted service to our country. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests offering a Catholic Memorial Mass for the repose of Giles’s soul or donations can be made to: https://www.stjude.org/donate. Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence or words of comfort or share a memory of someone important to you with your family and friends. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so. To send flowers or gift to the family, please visit our Sympathy Store.