Patrick E. Riendeau Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

SOUTH CANAAN – Patrick E. Riendeau, 73, of South Canaan, died on Tuesday morning, May 5, 2015, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook after a brief illness. Pat was born on Feb. 11, 1942, in East Hereford, Que., a son to the late Archille and Marie Laure (Marquis) Riendeau. He was naturalized a U.S. citizen at the age of 5, attended the local school and was later drafted and served with honor in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and he continued his service to the nation with more than 20 years in the Army Reserve, retiring at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Pat worked for many years in construction in the Burlington, Vt., area before relocating back to Canaan. He later worked for 32 years at the Beecher Falls Division of Ethan Allen, retiring from there as a technician and supervisor. While in retirement he was never one to sit still, and he enjoyed working with his friend Don Belliveau with any project Don had in store. Pat loved to go snowmobiling and four-wheeling, and he loved to socialize. His countless friends and family will all miss his good nature and ever-present smile. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 47 in Canaan for 42 years. He leaves behind his wife of almost 51 years, Bonnie (LaMere) Riendeau of Canaan; a daughter, Pamela Riendeau Jones and fiancé Ron Crawford of Pennsylvania; his son, Paul Riendeau and fiancée, Donna Leigh of Columbia; three beloved grandchildren, Kacie Riendeau, Alan Jones and Melinda Jones; a great-granddaughter, Avaeh Childs; two brothers, Gerard (Rosemary) Riendeau of Canaan, and Roger Riendeau of Canaan; five sisters, Suzelle (Walter) Noyes of Beecher Falls, Jocelyn (Jean-Pierre) Gervais of Island Pond, Vt., Jacinthe (Luc) Marchesseault of Canaan, Doris (Claude) Bouthillier of Florida, and Louise (Luc) Lambert of Manchester, NH; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by a brother, Michel in 1975. Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 7, 2015, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 8, at St. Brendan’s Church in Colebrook, with The Rev. Craig Cheney as celebrant. Burial with military honors will immediately follow at St. Brendan’s Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Pat may be made to the Two Rivers Ride for Cancer, c/o R. Mulliken at 53 Spring St., Colebrook, NH 03576; or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements in NH are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Patrick E. Riendeau

February 11, 1942 - May 5, 2015