O. Joseph Simard, Jr.

O. Joseph Simard

1941-2024

O. Joseph Simard, Jr, of East Burke, VT died August 7, 2024, at 82. 

He was born in Hartford, CT to the parents of Omer Joseph Simard and Florence Bourque and was proud of his Acadia French heritage. He attended French-speaking schools in Frog Hollow Hartford until beginning his photography career at Loring Studios after graduation. He served in the US Army after being drafted in 1966 and spent his time in Kansas as a medic. He graduated from Johnson and Wales after attending night school with a degree in Business. His career changed in 1978 when he moved his family to East Burke, Vermont, and worked in sales and management. 

He met the love of his life, Sally Ann Giordano at the age of 20 and was married on May 4, 1963, they built a beautiful life of family and community. Joe’s love of God and all people, his humility and kindness is what he will be remembered for the most. His service to his Catholic Church family began as an altar boy. He was a lecturer at St Elizabeth’s Church reading scripture for decades, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was always seen at St Elizabeth’s Fish Fry. He embraced his AA family as part of his 51 years of sobriety and was a mentor to countless “anonymous” friends. Joe always had a friendly smile and would chat with anyone. He had many nuggets of wisdom known as “O Joe’ism” that would deliver a message of patience, love, and forgiveness. 

Joe created beauty and abundance in his gardens and was always amazed that a city boy who started with a tomato plant in a pot on the sidewalk was all it took to ignite his gardening passion. He taught his family to love books, learn history, love nature, and to always be kind, grateful, and forgiving. He had just returned from a trip to visit his family in Alaska, something he had wanted to do one more time before his passing. 

Joe’s abundant family includes his wife Sally Ann of 61 years, four children and their families: daughter Donnalee Stockwell and her husband Clayton (Saco, ME), son Michael Simard and his wife Jen (Fairbanks, AK), son Robert Simard and fiancé Maria Mountjoy (Fairbanks, AK), and daughter Michelle Simard (East Burke) and son-in-law, Carroll Sherburne (Lyndonville, VT). He is an honorary father to Bonnie Wilcox. He has a sister, Noella Simard (Barton, VT). His grandchildren are Averie and husband Jake, Andrea and Shawn, Michael, William, Gabrielle, Anya, and Matthew. His great-grandchildren are Alexis, Alanna, Sophia, Mia, Landen, Ryan, Kendall, Shirley, Cody, and Connor. 

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Donald Simard, and a great-granddaughter Adeline Noble. 

In lieu of flowers & donations, please honor Joe’s legacy today, with an intentional act of love by giving kindness, grace, gratitude, and forgiveness toward others.

Friends may call on the family Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 5-7pm at Guibord-Pearsons Funeral Home, 15 Main Street, Lyndonville, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 10am at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Lyndonville, VT with Fr. Lance Harlow officiating. Burial with military honors will immediately follow at 11:30am Woodmont Cemetery in Burke, VT. There will be a small reception following the burial.

Memories and condolences may be shared with family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com.