Roger Gibeault

Roger Omer Gibeault, a longtime Burlington resident recently of Shelburne, died September 23rd at the McLure Miller Respite House, surrounded by his family around him. Roger was pre-deceased by his first wife Yseult "Hazel" (Dubois) Gibeault in 1986. Roger is survived by Mary McGinley, his beloved wife of 29 years, children John (Beeb), Paul (Mandy), and Louise Beaudoin, and his sister Pauline Dubois. Roger also leaves behind grandchildren Charlotte (James), Sage, Paula, Andy, Nicole and Alex; great-grandchildren Victoria (Owen), Hailey and Addison, and step-children Joseph Hotung, Patrick Hotung (Lisa), Ann Hotung, and Ellen Hotung (Steve Boyd) and step-grandchildren Alex and Nicole, Ian, Grace,Sarah,Becky,Lauren,Charlotte,Jack,Nicholas and Katherine.

Roger was born in Addison VT in 1932 to Eloise Charette Gibeault and Ernest Alfred Gibeault. They spoke only French in the home, and he first learned English in a one-room schoolhouse in Addison, VT. As a boy, he worked on the family farm and loved to fish in the waters nearby.

Roger graduated from Vergennes High School and Moreau Barber School in Montreal. He was drafted in 1954, served two years in the Army, and was honorably discharged. For six years, he worked as a barber with brother-in-law Camile Dubois. For 27 years Roger was employed by the company that is now Champlain Cable. As Supervisor of Technical Services, he oversaw a laboratory and the technical paperwork needed to operate it.

Roger was a devout Catholic in belief and action. As a boy and young adult, he served Mass. Later, he was President of Vermont Cursillo, a lay program emphasizing Prayer, Study and Action to bring God's love and grace to daily interactions with others. In 1986, Roger co-founded Vermont Dismas House, a halfway house for prisoners returning to the community, where he continued his involvement for nearly 40 years. For 14 years, Roger and his wife Mary held an annual plant sale at their home, and donated proceeds to Dismas House.

Roger was energetic and active in causes he believed in. He volunteered at the Chittenden Community Correctional Center for 30 years, where he taught classes to help prisoners make better decisions by examining and changing their thoughts and behaviors. As a widower of his first wife, Roger welcomed immigrant refugees on their way to Canada into his home. Later in life, Roger and his wife Mary volunteered for community causes in Vermont and in Brownsville Texas, where he and Mary wintered for many years.

Roger was an avid gardener with a green thumb, an activist for social justice, an avid reader, loved sailing which he took up in his 60's, and enjoyed watercolor painting. Roger delighted in travel with Mary, and they enjoyed trips to Europe, Mexico, and El Salvador. Roger devoted his time to his wife Mary, family, friends, and the causes he believed in.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Ready Funeral Home 261 Shelburne Road Burlington on Friday October 3, 2025 from 5 pm to 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday October 4, 2025 at 11am at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church 72 Church Street Shelburne VT .

Interment will be on Wednesday October 8 , 2025 at 1 pm at Resurrection Park Cemetery 200 Hinesburg Road Burlington .

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences please visit www.readyfuneral.com