Steven Gallant, Sr.

ROCHDALE - Steven J. Gallant, Sr., 86, of Siani Road, died Friday, May 29, 2015, at UMass Memorial Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Evangeline M. (MacQuarrie) Gallant; five children, David Gallant and his wife Joan of Oxford, Charlene Sampson and her husband Robert of Rochdale, Cynthia Orrell and her husband Steven Potter of Rochdale, Mark Gallant and his wife Julie of Spencer, and Danny Gallant and his wife Tammy of Rochdale; a daughter-in-law, Kathleen Gallant of Ocala, FL; a son-in-law, John Yolda of Danielson, CT; a sister, Rita Gravel of Brimfield; a brother, Ronald P. Gallant of Southbridge; many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by two children, Steven J. Gallant Jr. of Rochdale; and Barbara Yolda of Danielson, CT. He was born in Oxford, the son of the late William J. and Agnes M. (Montville) Gallant, Sr., and lived in Oxford before moving to Rochdale in 1952. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Gallant retired as a foreman of the Leicester Highway Department, where he worked for 14 years. Throughout his life, he was the owner of his own lumber, salvage, and trucking companies. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 7556 in Rochdale and the American Legion Post 205 in Rochdale. He enjoyed building houses, roads, and working on the land. He loved hunting and fishing, staying at his camp in Maine during the summer, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Calling hours are Thursday, June 4, 2015, from 9-11 a.m. at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Roch's Cemetery in Oxford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.