Robert L. Thibault

Robert (Bob) L. Thibault, 84, of Gardner, died peacefully, Tuesday, October 13, 2020, in Fitchburg Healthcare, with his family by his side.

Born in Fitchburg on November 17, 1935, he was the son of the late Cleophas and Leontine (Croteau) Thibault. He graduated from Fitchburg High School, class of 1953. After high school, Bob joined the U.S. Army serving from 1955 to 1957, as a mechanic and traveled across Europe while serving his country, where he received the Good Conduct Medal. He later enlisted in the US Air Force Reserves where he was discharged in 1958. Bob was a machinist employed by the Crocker Burbank/James River Company for over 40 years until his retirement. After retiring from James River, he worked in machine maintenance for ten years at Harrington & Richardson.

Bob was a parishioner of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of Gardner. He was a member of the Acadien Social Club of Gardner. In his free time, Bob loved to be in his driveway fixing cars for his family and friends during all New England seasons. Bob loved a great joke, summer family vacations in York Beach, ME and spending his winters after retirement in Florida with his brother Lou. The time that Bob loved and cherished the most was spent with his family.

Bob is survived by his three sons, Keith F. Thibault and his wife Lisa of Swanzey, NH, Bruce A. Thibault of Gardner, and Robert B. Thibault and his fiancé Amanda of Trinity, FL; two daughters, Donna M. Baczewski and her husband Ted of Worcester, and Susan E. Cormier of Old Orchard Beach, ME; two sisters, Jean Jananowski and her husband Jake of Leominster, Yvonne “Honey” St. Jean of Fitchburg; eight grandchildren, Bryan and Caitlin Cormier, Tyler, Celeste, Kyle, Nathan, and Matthew Thibault, and Salina Robinson; 4 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Priscilla M. (Putnam) Thibault in 2011; five brothers, Henry, Raymond, Leo, Lou, Don and Rich Thibault; and three sisters, Cecile Chiampa, Florence Jewett and Dora Fiorentino.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, October 19, 2020, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Burial will be held in St. John’s Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA, at a later date.

Calling Hours will be private.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452, or on their website at (www.alz.org). Please reference in memory of Robert L. Thibault.