Joe was born on May 6, 1924, in Biddeford, a son of Wilfred and Jeanne (Dubuc) Grenier. He was employed for many years at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and, as a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, worked throughout the country on projects such as the Texas Tower, the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, and the Navy VLF Transmitter Towers in Culter. Joe was a Naval petty class officer-shipfitter in World War II, having served in the South Pacific for over three years. He was proud of the fact that he was a Seabee and of its motto of “We Build, We Fight.”
Joe was an accomplished and charming dancer right up to his death. He was generous and friendly to all. He loved his family and helped them all when in need and liked to leave surprise gifts at their doorstops. He also loved landscaping, driving his tractor, and making various contraptions. He was a source of endless jokes right up to his last moments entertaining family, friends and the nurses. Joe was not politically correct. In looking back at his life, Joe would say “That’s really something” and “beeeauuutiful.” He will be so badly missed by all but has asked us to “carry on.”
Joe is survived by: his son, Russell “Rick” Grenier and his wife and devoted caretaker Norma Grenier of Saco; and his daughter, Susan Grenier Strout and her husband, Michael Strout of Hartland. He is also survived by: four grandchildren, all living in Saco, Kristine Grenier Browne and her husband Jay Browne, Heidi Varle and her husband Daniel Varle, William Kendall IV and his wife Melanie Kendall, and Steven Grenier. He is loved by: six great-grandchildren, Michael Giroux, Trevor Bourgault, Nathan Varle, William Kendall V, Madeline Kendall, and Devin Grenier. He is also survived by his sister, Lorraine Dominguez of Lomita, California.
He was preceded in death by: three sisters, Lucille Grenier Pare of Old Orchard Beach, Priscilla “Kris” Grenier Gebauer of Arizona, and Claire Grenier Bergeron of Biddeford. His beloved cat, Coco, was a friend and comfort to PaPere until shortly before his death.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco. All are welcome to attend and wear yellow, Joe’s favorite color, and celebrate PaPere’s life. A graveside service with military honors will be at a later date in Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Springvale. To view Joe’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Southern Maine, whom the family would like to thank so deeply for helping them all along.
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