Gilles J. Desautels

RICHFORD - Gilles Joseph Desautels, age 92, passed away, Saturday, July 2, 2016 at the Franklin County Rehab Center in St. Albans.

He was born April 17, 1924 in St. Theordore DActon, Quebec Canada the son of the late, Omer & Yvonne (Dion) Desautels.

Gilles married Monique Fonatine in Quebec on June 12, 1948 and shortly after moved to Richford, VT where they started dairy farming on the Golf Course Road and for the past 55 years farmed on the Pinnacle Road. While farming, Gilles started a trucking business and Monique tended to the farm chores. He also operated a construction business and was the happiest when operating his bulldozer, something that he was still doing up until December of 2015. In the late 1960s Gilles started Desautels Paving and after a few years of operation he partnered with his brother, Germain and eventually sold his interest to Germain.

Gilles was a devoted member of All Saints Catholic Church and was instrumental in the building of Dorion Hall under the guidance of Father St. Onge. He also worked on the construction of Jay Peak and the Northland Hockey Stick Factory

He is survived by his children, Francine Parent and her husband Marcel of Bromont, Quebec, Jacques Desautels of Richford, Pauline Desautels of Vergennes, Louise Elwood and her husband Dale of Franklin, Luc Desautels of Donalds, SC, Lucie Hill and her husband Steven of Swanton and Christine Clark and her husband Joel of Swanton, 20 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; his sisters, Germaine Provost and her husband George of St. Theodore, Quebec, and Jacqueline Favreau and her husband Gilles of Sutton, Quebec; his brother, Laurent Desautels of Waco, TX; his half-sister, Marthe Chartier and her husband Bruce of Agawam, MA; his step-sister, Theresa Desautels of Agawam, MA; his sisters-in-law, Noella Desautels of Richford & Ginette Desautels of Franklin; many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Gilles was predeceased by his wife, Monique (Fontaine) Desautels on April 19, 2015. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Marcel, Andre, Leo, Florian, Germain, Albert & Jean Noel; and his sisters, Laurentia & Laurette Courtemanche, Lucienne Dion & Yvette Larocque.

Gilless family wishes to thank the staff at the Franklin County Rehab Center for the excellent and compassionate care provided to Gilles during his stay there.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 11:00 AM at All Saints Catholic Church, 152 Main Street, Richford with Rev. Karl Hahr celebrating the Mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Family is invited to gather at the funeral home in Enosburg Falls on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, July 22, 2016 from 6-9 PM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls.

For those who wish, contributions in Gilless memory may be made to the All Saints Catholic Church 152 Main Street, Richford, VT 05476.