Gaspard Mirakian
Obituary
On July 16th, 2023, Gaspard Mirakian, 89, passed peacefully after suffering from a long illness. Earlier in the day his beloved wife Rolande (Billard) and daughter Rose were by his side to express their love and say their final goodbyes.
Gaspard was born in Paris, France on August 8th, 1933. He was the son of Kirkor Mirakian and Valentine Garabedian, both from Armenia. He and his 3 brothers grew up in the time of WWII where food and freedom were scarce. His father died when he was 13 from a strangled hernia as the Germans had blown up the only bridge to the hospital. In a moment, Gaspard and his older brother George, became the caretakers and breadwinners of their family. He only got through an 8th grade education as he began sewing with his brother to make money to support their family.
Gaspard met Rolande in 1954 and they were married in Paris on July 23rd, 1955. In 1960, their daughter Rose was born. A few years later, Gaspard would follow his older brother to the “land of opportunity”, the USA, and in 1965 his wife and daughter joined him. Gaspard continued his craft of tailoring while Rolande was busy working and furthering her education, simultaneously. They lived in Plainfield, NJ until the early 70’s, then Hillsborough, NJ through 1988. While in Hillsborough, Gaspard opened his own tailor shop “Au Gentilhomme”. The dream had come true. They then moved to Branchburg, NJ until 2000 at which point they came to reside at Oak Point in Middleborough, MA.
Gaspard and Rolande were inseparable and always did everything together. He loved his family, especially his grandson Chase who, when little, used to mimic him in all ways and would make him laugh. He loved his friends and always looked forward to the French Club gatherings. He enjoyed playing petanque and pool and good conversation. In France, his family and friends called him Pedro and, in the US, his nickname was often Gerard. As much as he loved the US his heart always yearned for his homeland France.
Gaspard is survived by his loving wife Rolande, daughter Rose and her husband Scott Wheeler, their son Chase, daughter-in-law Erica and son Joey. Sadly, Gaspard never got to meet Joey in person.
He is survived by his brother Bernard and late wife Michelle, late brother George and wife Denise and late brother Robert,and his late wife Christiane, sisters-in-law Henriette and her late husband Claude Niverts, Jacqueline and her late husband Guy, and late sister-in-law Andre and her late husband Henri.
There are a total of 13 nieces and nephews who survive him. On the Mirakian side, Veronique, and her 4 children Evan and his wife Samantha and their 2 children Gabriel and Kieran, Rachel, Tristen and Melissa, Carine and husband Don, their children Bobby, Christopher, Alexa and Paul Galeazzi. Gregory and girlfriend Jolene and her daughters Sonya and Katarina, Pascal and wife Sylvie, their children Kevin, Marie-Astride and Charlene, Geraldine and her children Chiara and Benjamin. On the Billard side, Claudine (Loquet) and husband Christian. Claudine’s son Sebastien, his wife Sophie and their 3 children, Lucie, Valentine and Aline, Christian’s daughters Lydia and Aurelia, Michel and wife Valerie and their 2 children Gregory and Sandra, Dominique and husband Serge and children Virginie and Mickael, Laurent and his wife Brigitte and their 4 sons, Valentin, Sebastien, Julien and Jean-Baptiste, Brigitte and her husband Daniel and son Mari, Claudine (Niverts) and husband Jean-Marc and their son, William and wife Rami and son William, Josette and husband Christian and 2 children, Aline and Xavier, Jocelyne and husband Olivier and children, Celine, Laetitia, Mathieu- Julien, Damien and Celine. Gaspard is survived by cousins-in law, Madeleine and her son Dominique, and cousin Georges and his wife Huguette and their sons Francis and Jean-Luc. Gaspard also had many wonderful friends whom he loved and cherished.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on July 28, 2023 (Friday) at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church of Saint Isidore Parish, 340 Center Street, Middleboro.
A reception will follow at 12 Noon in the Club Room @ Oak Point, 200 Oak Point Drive, Middleboro. Please use the Ballroom parking lot.
Please enjoy the beautiful anniversary tribute:
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