Robert A. Gallant

ROCHDALE – Robert A. Gallant, 83, of Lillian Avenue passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Worcester.  He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan (Arent) Gallant of Rochdale; four sons, Mark Gallant of Auburn, Paul Gallant and his wife Alida of Leominster, Richard Gallant of Worcester, and Anthony Gallant Esq. and his wife Maureen of Chicopee; seven grandchildren, Zachary, Marissa, Nicole, Dylan, Cameron, Ryan, and Mia; his sisters- and brothers-in-law, Carol Laprade and her husband Edwin of Fort Myers, FL, Paul Arent and his wife Joy of Webster, Kathleen Arent of Shrewsbury, Joanne Gallant of Whitinsville, John Mattson of Oxford; and his best friend, Jim Ferdella of Leicester, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Richard Gallant who passed away in 2021; and a sister, Dolores Mattson who passed away in 2009.  He was born in Worcester, son of the late Joseph S. and Rita B. (Robidoux) Gallant, and was a lifelong resident of Rochdale.  He attended St. Peter’s High School in Worcester and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Gallant was a maintenance mechanic at Air Products & Chemicals in Hopkinton for 34 years, retiring in 2005.  He could fix anything and was the neighborhood repairman. He was a member of St. Aloysius/St. Jude Parish in Leicester.  He enjoyed traveling to Europe and throughout the United States, taking trips to Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, and Northern Michigan, with Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel being a favorite destination.  He climbed Diamond Head and visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, visited the Coliseum in Rome, and gambled in Monte Carlo and Las Vegas.

He enjoyed his motorcycles and Corvettes, reading, solving Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles, hiking, watching golf, and attending PGA tournaments.  Also, he was a loyal New England Patriots fan.  Most of all, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and hosting family cookouts by his pool.  Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.  He will be dearly missed.

Calling hours are Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023, at St. Roch’s Church, 332 Main St., Oxford.  Those attending are respectfully requested to meet directly at the church.  Burial will be private at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Leicester Senior Center.  Checks must be payable to the Town of Leicester (mailing address is: 40 Winslow Avenue, Leicester MA 01524).  Special thanks to the staff at the Saint Francis Nursing Center and Notre Dame Hospice Care for their compassionate care.