Rest in Peace

Pepe lost his battle with lung cancer and is at peace with his wife and son in heaven. When I think of him, this image comes to mind, so it only seemed fitting that today's blip is this image.

I am thankful that Mom arrived home just hours before Dad received the phone call and that they were able to be together to mourn.

Rest in Peace Pepe.

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Obituary: Portland Press Herald

Gerard Henry Nadeau, 88

WESTBROOK -- Gerard Henry Nadeau, 88, of Fairlawn Ave., Westbrook, passed away Dec. 19, 2012 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

A lifelong resident of Westbrook, he was born here the son of Leon and Mary Nadeau. Gerard served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He flew 32 missions in England as a bombardier on a Liberator bomber. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force Gerard took a job at the S.D. Warren Paper Co., where he was employed for 36 years before retiring. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved to spend time at his camp on Peabody Pond.

He was predeceased by a son Robert John Nadeau who was killed in 1969 while serving in Vietnam.

Gerard is survived by his wife Yvonne (Laroque) Nadeau of Westbrook; sons, Richard and wife Patricia Nadeau of Skowhegan and Randall and his wife Rebekah Nadeau of Gorham, a step-daughter Judith Hutchinson of Biddeford; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. Interment with military honors will take place at 9:00 a.m. Monday at Woodlawn Cemetery. On line condolences may be expressed at blaisandhayfuneralhome.com

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Update: 12/24/12: We laid Pepe to rest this morning at Woodlawn Cemetary in Westbrook. The ceremony was full military honors and was extremely moving. The flag was folded by two Airmen and as they did, a bomber flew over the cemetary. We can only assume that it was Pepe's spirit coming through.

A family brunch afterward was just what we needed to get us all back into the spirit of Christmas and family. Memories, stories and laughs brought us closer together and reminded us of the good times we shared.