Gertrude Beland

WEBSTER – Gertrude L. (Boutillette) Beland, 91, of Oakwood Drive, died Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at UMass Memorial Medical Center – Memorial Campus, Worcester. She was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Lorenzo L. "Pete" Beland of Webster, who died in 2006. She is survived by her loving and devoted family, her son Alfred E. Beland and his wife Maureen of Webster, with whom she lived; a daughter, Nancy E. Camerano and her husband Carl of Webster; a son-in-law, Kevin J. Reidy of Tampa, FL; her loving grandchildren, Eric and John Beland of Webster, Stephen and Peter Camerano of Oxford; Susan Vanderhoof of Webster, Jill Blain of Pomfret, CT, and Erin Reidy of Alexandria; a step grandson, Patrick Scanlon of Grafton; 22 great grandchildren, one great great grandson, a special sister-in-law, Louise Thienel Boutillette of Oxford, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by two daughters, Arlene Beland who died in 2001, and Carol Reidy who died in 2004; and all of her siblings: six brothers Arthur, Edward, Philip, Wilfred, Andrew, and Raymond Boutillette; and three sisters Marie-Antoinette Ryan, Eliza Javery, and Olive Potvin. She was born on June 14, 1916, in Worcester, and was the youngest daughter of the late Wilfred J. and Lea (Belair) Boutillette. She lived in Oxford for 68 years before moving to Webster in 1991. She graduated from Oxford Public Schools in Oxford. Mrs. Beland was a member and former C.C.D. teacher at St. Roch's Church in Oxford. She was a longtime member and Trustee for the Webster Emblem Club. She was a former member of the Oxford Woman's Club and the Webster Lions Club. Mrs. Beland enjoyed ballroom dancing, and in the 1930's, she was the drummer for the family band called "Marie's Orchestra" who performed at the family owned Old Salt Box dance hall in North Oxford. She enjoyed cooking and sewing for her family, but her greatest joy was being with her family. She will be greatly missed by all, especially her faithful companion and pet dog Keeley. A funeral will be held on Monday, June 16, 2008, from Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Roch's Church, 332 Main St., Oxford. Burial will follow at St. Roch's Cemetery, Oxford. Calling hours are Sunday, June 15, 2008, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bay Path High School, c/o the L.P.N. Nursing Program, 57 Old Muggett Hill Road, Charlton, MA 01507, Attn: Business Office.