Rene Doiron

Rene “Chocolate” P. Doiron, 91, of Gardner, died peacefully Saturday, July 24, 2021, in UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospital, Leominster, after a short illness with his family by his side.

Born in Gardner on January 2, 1930, he was the son of the late Phillip J. and Marie Sarah (LeBlanc) Doiron. He attended Gardner High School and later graduated from the Bridgton Academy, Bridgton, ME, with the Class of 1950. Rene was a United States Army Korean War Veteran serving from 1951 to 1953. Rene was an Equipment Manager employed by Mount Wachusett Community College of Gardner for 17-years until his retirement in 1994. He was previously employed by S. Bent Company of Gardner for 17-years.

Rene was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner, where he was a member of its St. Vincent de Paul Society, its former League of Sacred Heart Society, and was a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of Ovila Case VFW Post 905 of Gardner, American Legion Post 129 of Gardner, and a former Board Member of the Gardner Council of Aging. Rene loved sports and was an excellent athlete, particularly in track. He was inducted into the Gardner High School Athletic Hall of Fame for Track and Field and placed seventh in the United States Olympic Trials, and coached basketball for several years. He enjoyed woodworking and traveling with his wife Pauline, visiting various places across the world. But the time that Rene loved and treasured the most was spent with his family.

Rene is survived by his wife of 67-years, Pauline C. (Gariepy) Doiron of Gardner; four sons, Paul R. Doiron and his wife Donna of Louisville, KY, Michael F. Doiron and his wife Sharon of Gardner, Richard E. Dorion and his wife Donna of Westfield, and John N. Doiron and his wife Sherry of Toano, VA; a daughter, Diane T. Kelley and her husband Kevin of Gardner; thirteen grandchildren, Jim, Nicholas, Joanna, Sean, Pat, Erin, Shannon, Sarah, Justin, Emily, Ben, Olivia, and Alexa; eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alice Duchaine of Gardner and Lillian Bibeau and her husband Paul of Rockford, IL; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by a grandson, Craig.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 31, 2021, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA.

Calling Hours will be held Friday, July 30, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440, or to Holy Family Academy, 99 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Please reference in memory of Rene P. Doiron.