George A. Croteau Obituary

George A. Croteau, 81, passed away peacefully at Baystate Hospital on October 12,
2024, after a sudden, brief illness. The eldest of 5 children, he was born to George M. &
Eleanor Croteau (Brown) on October 13, 1942, in Springfield, MA. He spent years of his
youth learning the family profession of carpentry from his father and grandfather.
Shortly after graduating from Chicopee High School, he served his country as a Private
in the Army from March 22, 1962, until March 6, 1968, and was honorably discharged.
After a few years working as a maintenance technician for the old telephone company in
downtown Springfield, he rediscovered his true calling by entering the family business
as a carpenter. He eventually started his own carpentry/home remodeling company
which he operated for over 25 years before retiring. He loved the beach and traveling
with his family and friends to many places including Cape Cod, St. Maarten, Las Vegas,
Niagara Falls and later fulfilled a lifelong desire to go on an Alaskan cruise, with his
partner Donna. Later in life, he also enjoyed going to 50’s Doo-Wop dance parties.
Anyone that knew George knows that he was also an avid sports fan. At home or even at
family gatherings, if he wasn’t taking a nap (his other passion) you could always find
him around the tv watching just about any sport that could be found, while at the same
time criticizing every play, every second of the game...especially the Red Sox! Generally
a man a few words, but if you got him started, he would always have a funny story to
tell. Many of the stories often revolved around his exploits with his lifelong and best
friend since childhood, Roger. There always seemed to be, however, 2 different versions
of each story, depending on if you asked George or Roger about them, the “other one”
was always the instigator. He was predeceased by his wife Susan A. Croteau (Nadeau)
(2015) his father George M. Croteau (2016), his mother Eleanor (Brown) (1973), and his
brother Charles Croteau (1988). Always to be remembered, loved, and respected, he is
survived by his son George M. Croteau and his wife Suzanne (Everett) of Ludlow, his
partner of 8 years, Donna Fontaine of Chicopee, his sister Barbara and her husband
Kenneth Lamy of Minooka, IL, his sister Maryann Croteau of Martinsville, VA, his
brother Kenneth and companion Will Seals of Wilbraham, his stepmother Linna Croteau
(Longley) of Englewood, FL, his stepbrother Randall Longley and his wife
Terri (Kolodziej) of Westfield, and his stepbrother Scott Longley and his wife Karen Jin
of Westfield, and his stepdaughter Michelle DeFranzo and her husband Robert. He also
leaves behind an extensive list of other family, close friends and acquaintances including
Roger Bresnahan and his wife Mary, of Lansing, MI, Susan Roberts and her daughter
Meghan of Chicopee, Jody Santiago and his wife Annette of Chicopee, and his “son” in
St. Maarten, Luckner “Quick” Laventure. Family and friends are invited to gather for a
time of remembrance on Thursday, October 24th from 10am until 1pm at Tylunas Funeral
Home, 159 Broadway in Chicopee, MA. There will be a prayer service in the funeral
home at 1pm, followed by Christian burial with military honors at St. Patrick’s
Cemetery in Chicopee. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Dana Farber
Cancer Institute, the Melha Shriners Children’s Hospital, your local MSPCA, or a
charity of your personal choosing.