LEWISTON – Victor J. Rivard, 76, of Lewiston, died at home with his wife by his side on Thursday, Sept. 14.

He was born in Claremont, N.H., on April 18, 1930, the son of Isidore and Lucienne Ferland Rivard. He moved to Lewiston at a very early age and graduated from St. Mary’s School and attended two and a half years at the Seminary at St. Charles Borromeo in Sherbrooke, Canada.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1950, and served four years on the destroyer USS Sarsfield; attaining the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer and was honorably discharged in July 1954. He received the Good Conduct Medal.

On Sept. 3, 1955, he married Anita Dumais and was blessed with five daughters, (Marie predeceased him in 1956). He worked at Parent Furniture for several years as a furniture and appliance salesman and repairman. He retired from the furniture business in 1992. He began working at St. Mary’s Hospital in environmental services for a couple of years before retiring completely.

During retirement he took up the art of woodworking. He also had a great love of spending time by the ocean. He served as president of St. Mary’s Credit Union from 1967 to 1970. He volunteered his time as a CCD teacher in the St. Mary’s school system from 1966 to 1969.

He loved people and will always be remembered for his love of life, and loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He will also be fondly remembered for his sense of humor, and his ability to “make people laugh” even in the last days of his life. Despite his illness, he maintained contact with his shipmates from the Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Anita L. Dumais Rivard of Lewiston; four daughters, Claire Dionne and husband, Gerald, of Mechanic Falls, Joanne Lavoie of Mechanic Falls, Donna Abellanida and husband, Alvin, of Maui, Hawaii and Judy Llodra and husband, Joseph, of Jupiter, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Nicole and David Dionne, Scott and Nicholas Lavoie, Melissa, Kelsey and Caylin Abellanida, Samantha and Alexandra Llodra; a sister, Lucille Nadeau of Lewiston; and a brother, Normand Rivard of San Antonio, Texas.

He was predeceased by his father, Isidore Rivard; his mother, Lucienne Ferland Rivard; and infant daughter, Marie Rivard.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the wonderful care provided by his medical providers and the Androscoggin Home Health team.