Gertrude (Levesque) Bouchard, age 94 of Somerset, Mass. went home to be with her Savior and her beloved husband Jerry on March 9, 2025. She was predeceased by Jerome almost 8 years. They had been happily married prior to his death for sixty-four and a half years.

Gertrude started her life journey on June 22, 1930, born to Rene and Maria (Paradis) Levesque at their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. She was the seventh child of 8 children who survived. She had two brothers who had not survived past infancy. Her father worked in the water department in Fall River and barely made enough to support his large family. Her mother was a "stay at home" mom. Gertrude had a hard early life. She enjoyed spending time with her girlfriends and cousins, and she treasured those memories. We remember stories that she received an orange for Christmas or got her hands on a raw potato to enjoy with salt as times were so hard for the Levesques in the days around the Depression. Despite that, Gertrude maintained a positive attitude throughout her life. She always found solace in her faith. It continued to nourish her life through those hard times resulting in her following a religious path later.

She met Jerry through a friend in the Brightman Street neighborhood in early 1950 and it started an over 67-year love affair that produced 5 children. They had been dating for six months when Gertrude decided to pursue her dream of being a nun. Jerry was so distraught by her decision that he joined the Air Force and was shipped off to England after Basic Training. Gertrude continued her high school education at St. Joseph's Convent in Fall River. Jerry's father died suddenly in August of 1951 and family connections worked on a hardship discharge for him because he was the only son. In the meantime, for personal reasons, Gertrude abandoned her plan of being in the religious life. When Jerry was honorably discharged in February of 1952, the first thing he did was to find Gertrude. They were married seven months later, on September 6, 1952. The children followed in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1963.

Gertrude was also a stay-at-home mom for many years while her family grew up on Palmer Street in Fall River. In their early years she was kept busy with family life and keeping up with 5 children. Honestly, we don't know how she did it. She worked at candy companies in Fall River doing piece work for some years then in 1969, the Bouchards moved to Somerset. Jerry and Gert had sold the 3-decker on Palmer Street and bought a brand-new house in Somerset. She got her license late in life and wanted to supplement the household income, so she worked at American Records, formerly on Riverside Ave. During this period, she decided to enhance her skills by attending Bristol Community College for shorthand. She attained her certificate and was then hired by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company on Davol Street and found her niche there. She was the "Tell-Sell" girl and contacted local businesses for their Coke orders. She loved this job and earned a small pension upon retiring.

Gert and Jerry enjoyed traveling to California, Connecticut and New Jersey to visit their children. She enjoyed bingo for many years and would attend with her beloved sister Yvette and later with her bingo buddy, daughter-in-law Doreen. And God help you if you called Bingo without having it!! When Jerry retired from Slade Laundry in the late 80's, he and Gert continued to drive a laundry truck to the Naval Base in Newport, RI. It was an easy job for them, and it kept them young. They were constantly together and truly personified a loving marriage. Through thick and thin, it was Jerry and Gert.

We all have fond memories of yearly family vacations to Mohawk Trail, New Hampshire and to visit family friends at their dairy farm in Burlington, VT. The seven of us would load up into the station wagon and enjoy family time. The simple things were enjoyed by us all. Gertrude was always very dedicated to her faith and had been a communicant of St. Louis de France Church in Swansea since 1969. She was a member of the prayer group, was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector for many years and continued attending church for as long as was possible. Her faith was her strength, and she would not hesitate to tell anyone about it. She prayed the rosary 14 times a day for her children and special friends and watched daily mass until her decline started in January of this year. She had survived getting COVID-19 four times and was a very strong person because of her faith. We want to thank the kind personnel at Country Gardens Health and Rehab for making mom's time there better.

Gertrude leaves behind her loving children: Denise M. Bouchard and her partner Michael Moniz of North Dartmouth, MA.; Donald P. Bouchard and his wife, Doreen (Entwistle); grandson Andrew Bouchard, his wife Betsy Ann; granddaughter Sarah J. (Bouchard) Parks and her husband Nelson E., beloved great-grandson, Nathan of Raleigh, NC; a daughter Darlene M. Richards and her husband Bruce and beloved grandson, James M. of Somerset, MA. and a daughter, Donna J. Bouchard and her deceased partner Richard Moskovitz of Hopewell, NJ. Gertrude also leaves behind her oldest child, David J. Bouchard, his wife Denise M. Bouchard and granddaughter Nicole of Seekonk, MA. along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gertrude was predeceased by her siblings, Armand, Yvette, Lionel, Laurenzo, Ernest, Leo, Henry, Yvonne and Arthur.

Funeral to which relatives and friends are invited will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, A memorial visitation will be held from 09:00 AM -10:15 AM inside of the Southcoast Funeral Home, 1555 Pleasant Street, Fall River, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Peace Parish, St. Louis de France Church, 56 Buffington St, Swansea. Inurnment will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Somerset, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Dementia Society of America. www.dementiasociety.org

Services are humbly entrusted into the care of Southcoast Funeral Home "Celebrating A Life Well Lived"