Romeo P. Bilodeau

January 25, 2020

Barre City - Romeo Paul Bilodeau, 82, has joined his wife Gloria in the home of Our Lord on January 25, 2020.  He went peacefully with his loving family at his side after a long bout with brain cancer. Romeo was born in Barre, Vermont on August 8, 1937.  He was the son of the late Leo J. Bilodeau and Antoinette (Constant) Bilodeau Dufresne and step-father, Conrad Dufresne.  Romeo grew up in Barre with his brothers, Maurice, Henry, Leopold and Bernard and his sister Jeannine.  With the strictest Mother and Father, they were all always up at the crack of dawn each day, no matter what, doing their farm chores, attending school and going to church every Sunday.  In their spare time, which was hard to come by, the brothers managed to fit in fighting with each other, dances at school, fighting over girls, swearing, competing with each other on who was the strongest, who's the  most handsome and learning how to sing and yodel. Romeo graduated from St. Monica's graded school and went on to graduate from Spaulding High School in 1955.  After graduation, he joined the Air Force and took basic training at Sampson Air Force base in Geneva, New York.  His first duty station was Magill Air Force Base in Pensicola, Florida as a Military Police.  He was then transferred to England at the Royal Air Force Station, West Draton for three years 1956 - 1959 as a Military Police.  He was honorably discharged in 1959.  After returning home, he joined his family working at his step fathers business, Conrad H. Dufresne & Sons Farm Machinery as an accountant and parts man. Romeo then found his girl Gloria and they fell madly in love.  They were married on October 1, 1960 and had three beautiful children.  During this time, he left the family business and went to work as an Insurance Agent at Prudential Insurance until his retirement in 1999.  He also joined the Navy Reserves as a Sea Bee and spent many drill week-ends and Act Dutra trips with his oldest son, Jonathan, before retirement after 26 years. Romeo took great pride and joy in everything he did.  Romeo was a devoted and loving husband, father, brother and best friend.  He loved and was very proud of his grandchildren. Romeo enjoyed gardening with his wife and children, singing in the church choir, canning, cooking, bartending, attending Prudential Conferences, family vacations to Cape Cod and Maine.  Romeo enjoyed golfing, horseshoes, fishing, hunting, hunting camp, playing pitch, farming with his oldest son Jonathan, raising chickens, pigs, turkeys, black angus cattle and spending many nights sugaring with the boys at the 3 B's Sugarhouse.  Romeo & Gloria vacationed in Cape May, enjoying all it had to offer and loved playing the slot machines in Atlantic City, Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods, Montreal Casino and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort. Romeo loved to visit his grandson Josh's horse, also named Romeo and he would bring him treats and watch him in the pasture. Romeo was not one to sit still, even in retirement.  Romeo went to the gym every day, often times bringing one of his grandchildren. He worked at Sprague Farm milking cows. He became a Cabot Ambassador promoting Cabot cheese traveling all over the United States which was in his words, "The Cat's Meow!" Most recently, he worked at Aubuchon Hardware where he continued his friendships with the many people that he came to know through his many years as an Insurance Agent and a member of the community.  Romeo's Catholic faith was very important to him and he went to church every day. He sang at church every Sunday and also for many weddings and funerals.  Romeo loved to laugh, sing, yodel with his wife and anyone who wanted to join him. Romeo was a member of St. Monica's Perish, Canadian Club, and the Mutuo, Inc. Survivors include his son Jonathan, his wife Reneè and their children, Tyler, Evan, his wife Abbey and Joshua; his daughter Marie, her husband Brice Mugford and their children, Matthew, Gwendolyn and Gavin; his son Dominic and his son Justin and his Fiancée, Minta Pudvah; siblings, Henry, wife Sally Bilodeau, Father Leopold Bilodeau and in-laws, Lucille Dufresne, Lee & Dick Hubbard, Beverly & Charlie Thygesen, Joyce &  Dick Polonski, Doris Town, Gary & Muriel Pletzer , Donna Pletzer , Helen Pletzer, and many beautiful nieces and nephews He is pre-deceased by his wife Gloria, his parents, brothers Maurice Bilodeau, Bernard Dufresne and sister Mary Concepta Bilodeau; in-laws Edgar & Mary Pletzer, Edgar Jr (Peanut), Leonard & Richard Pletzer, Salvatore Carrubba, Bruce Town, Richard Hubbard, Marilyn Pletzer Alpers, Merry Bilodeau and Jeannine Bilodeau; nieces Sherry Bilodeau, Anna Pletzer and nephews, Gregg Thygesen, Scott Bilodeau and Ricky Pletzer. A Catholic Memorial Mass and Celebration of his life will be held on February 7th, at 11 am in St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre. Extra parking is available at St. Monica parking lot. There are no calling hours, burial with his wife Gloria will be at a later date in the Veterans Cemetery in Randolph. The family would like memorial contributions in his memory made to Gregg Thygesen Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Thygesen Sports, 61 Smith St, Barre, VT 05641.  Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641,  National Life Cancer Treatment Center (NLCTC), PO Box 547, Barre, VT 05641 or to St. Monica's Catholic Church, 79 Summer Street, Barre, VT 05641. Arrangements are in the care of the Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer Street, Barre, VT.