Theodore Guertin

OXFORD - Theodore H. Guertin, 89, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at UMass Memorial Medical Center - Memorial Campus, of complications from a fall in October. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Julia A. (Brosnahan) Guertin of Oxford; two sons, Theodore H. Guertin and his wife Patrice of Oxford and Kenneth A. Guertin and his wife Lydia of Arlington; his son-in-law, John Hanson of Sturbridge; two sisters, Dr. D. Geraldine Guertin of Worcester and C. Patricia O'Keefe of Worcester; five grandchildren, Ryan Guertin, Patrick Guertin, Caitlin Guertin, Rebecca Guertin, and Alexander Guertin; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his daughter, Susan M. Hanson who died in 2012 and a brother, Donald V. Guertin. He was born in Haverhill, the son of the late Theodore D. and Helen (Nash) Guertin, and lived in Worcester before moving to Oxford in 1956. He graduated from Commerce High School in Worcester, received his bachelor's degree from Worcester State College, and completed his graduate studies at the University of Maine at Orono. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II; serving in Germany and in France at Normandy and Brittany. Mr. Guertin was a school teacher and assistant principal for Worcester Public Schools. He later became the first principal of the Chandler Community School. He retired in 1987 after 36 years of service to the school system. He was a longtime member of St. Roch's Church in Oxford, serving as a lector for over 30 years and as a CCD teacher. He was an adjunct professor at Worcester State University. Mr. Guertin was past district governor of the Serra Club and past president of the friends of the Oxford Public Library. He was a member of the First Friday Club and was a life member of the Knights of Columbus Alhambra Council 88 in Worcester. He was a member of the Greendale Retired Men's Club in Worcester as well as the V.F.W. Post 5663 and American Legion Post 58, both in Oxford. Mr. Guertin was a member of Greenhill Golf Course in Worcester and enjoyed vacationing in Florida. An aviation enthusiast, he was a licensed pilot for many years and enjoyed attending military air shows with his family. The family would like thank the staff at Davita Dialysis for their exceptional care and wonderful friendship over the past several years as well as his caregivers most recently at The Meadows/Vibra of Leicester and Umass Memorial of Worcester. A funeral will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015, from Paradis-Givner 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 in Oxford. Calling hours are Friday, February 27, 2015, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Roch's Church, 334 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540, or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/The Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445.