Obituary of Gerard F. Thibodeau

Gerard (Jerry) F. Thibodeau, 86, of Manchester, devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, July 14, 2023. Son of the late Ronnie and Memoree (Violette) Thibodeau, Gerard was born on November 21, 1936, in Van Buren, Maine. 

After attending Deering High School in Portland, Maine, Jerry went on to join the Marine Corps where he spent time stationed in Japan.  Jerry moved to Connecticut after being honorably discharged from the Marines and began working for Colt FireArms in Hartford.  It was there that he met the love of his life, Kathryn A. Bagley.  The two were married on September 13, 1969, and spent the next 54 years always by each other’s side.  An electrician by trade, Jerry worked at NAVCO Security Systems for over 25 years and through hard work, honesty, and dedication retired as the East Coast Vice President.  

Jerry found pleasure in life’s simple things. He had a love of music that spanned countless genres and knew how to throw a great living room dance party. Additionally, he was a self-taught guitar and harmonica player. An avid reader, Jerry was no stranger to the Manchester Public Library, and typically read over ten books a month. He loved playing cards, especially cribbage, completing crossword puzzles and cryptograms, and more recently, the daily WORDLE. One of Jerry’s greatest joys was to play golf, especially at Manchester Country Club, where he was a proud member for 38 years. An accomplished player, whose goal throughout the years was to “shoot his age”, Jerry loved not only playing, but watching and teaching the game to others. However, his true passion was simply enjoying the company of his family.  He found great pride in his grandchildren. He spent countless hours with them playing games, sharing stories and his wisdom, eating donuts and cheering them on during their sporting events. 

Besides his loving wife, Kathryn, Jerry is survived by his dedicated daughter, Susan McMahon, her husband Robert and their children, Michael, Sean and Molly. He is also survived by his sisters, Maxine Cavallaro and Rochelle Munroe, and a brother Joseph (Russell) Thibodeau. He also leaves behind his dear family friend, Jill Matyka, who he lovingly referred to as his “sister-in-law”. Gerard was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brother, Lou Thibodeau. 

Relatives and friends are invited to the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St. in Manchester for calling hours on Wednesday, July 19^th, 2023, from 9-11 a.m., with a funeral home service immediately following. Burial will be held at St. James Cemetery located in Manchester. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fisher House at https://fisherhouse.org. For online condolences, please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com