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February 15, 2022SHREWSBURY/LEOMINSTER — Father Robert E. Gariepy, 91, of Shrewsbury passed away on Saturday, Feb. 12, in the Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester.
He was born on May 16, 1930, in Leominster, the son of Raymond E. and Antoinette (Rheault) Gariepy.
He leaves his sister, Jeannine Farineau of Leominster; brothers, Roland (Evelyn) Gariepy of Framingham and Richard (Kathleen) Gariepy of Sun Valley, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and sister Sylvia (Gariepy) Buck.
He graduated from Leominster High School in 1949. He was drafted during the Korean War and served two years in Germany. After graduating from Assumption College in 1958, he earned a master’s degree at Laval University, Quebec City. He graduated from the Grand Seminary, Montreal, Canada, in 1963 and was ordained a priest on May 23, 1963, in St. Paul Cathedral.
He decided to return to the Army during the Vietnam War. He was sworn in as an Army chaplain in January 1967 and served as chaplain with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam for all three battalions in 1967-1968. His decorations include the Bronze Star medal.
He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1986 after serving in the Army for 23 years. His other assignments included Germany, South Korea, Okinawa, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Fort Hamilton, New York, and Fort Devens.
After being discharged from the Army, he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Gardner for five years before retiring from active ministry.
The family is especially grateful for the expert and compassionate care he received from the nurses and staff at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home at the end of his life, and the dedicated and tender care he received from Sister Mary Ann Bartell of the Carmelite Sisters of the Eucharist.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. in St. Cecilia Church, 180 Mechanic St., Leominster. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Cecilia's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Thursday, Feb. 17 from 4-7 p.m. in St. Cecilia's Church, with a vigil service at 7 p.m.
To leave a message of condolence please visit www.wrightroyfuneralhome.com
Wright-Roy Funeral Home, Inc. 109 West St., Leominster, is directing arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to: St. Cecilia's Memorial Fund, 180 Mechanic St., Leominster, MA 01453 or the Rose Monahan Hospice Home, 10 Judith Road, Worcester, MA 01602.
