Obituary: Joseph Adelard Cournoyer, 93, of Meriden

MERIDEN, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Joseph Adelard Cournoyer, 93, entered the gates of Heaven on Friday, April 23, 2021, in Meriden, surrounded by his adoring family. Born on January 29, 1928 in Putnam, CT, he was predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years, Jeanne T. (LeBeau) Cournoyer.

Joseph was the son of Adelard Cournoyer and Exepherina (LaMothe) Cournoyer and step-mother Juliette Coderre. Joseph was a long time resident of Meriden and was a parishioner of St. Mary's and Holy Angels Church.

Joseph graduated from preparatory school at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. Afterwards, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corp as a photographer, serving in the 20th Air Force in Guam.

Working for Stars and Stripes, he photographed Dwight Eisenhower and other figures and military events. Passionate about photography, he became an industrial photographer after returning home and worked at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, CT for 37 years.

During this time, he also worked as a wedding photographer for Bachrach Studios. An avid supporter of Scouts, Joseph was a leader and assistant scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 6 and Troop 9 in Meriden.

In later years, he and his wife Jeanne loved to travel and spend time with their family and lifelong friends. They loved daily cribbage games and never traveled without their cribbage board. Joseph loved woodworking, a skill learned from his father, and loved to work in his woodshop. Joseph was also an active member of the Y’s Men of Meriden.

He was the photographer for both the Y’s Men and the South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years. In 2019, as a WWII veteran, Joseph was blessed to partake in Connecticut’s inaugural Honor Flight to Washington DC, accompanied by his son James, an Air Force veteran. Throughout his life, he was devoted to his faith and served his church faithfully as a lector for 50 years at St. Mary’s Parish.

Left to honor their parent’s legacy and treasure their memories are sons Joseph Jr. and wife Catherine (Duberek) of Wallingford and James and husband Patrick Bufford of Durham, and daughter Jeanine Hanlon and husband Edward of Meriden; grandchildren Jennifer Hoffman and husband Todd, Christine Reynolds and husband Jesse, Alyssa Hanlon, Rebecca Hanlon, Ethan Bufford-Cournoyer, and Adam Bufford-Cournoyer; great grandchildren Abigail Hoffman, Mary Frances Hoffman, Ian Reynolds, and Finn Reynolds. Joseph was predeceased by his sister Yvonne Anita Cournoyer and infant brother, Joseph Cournoyer.

His family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St. Ext., Thursday, May 6, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 7, 2021, from The Wallingford Funeral Home at 9:00 a.m., when the funeral cortege will proceed to Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, Holy Angels Church in South Meriden, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m.

Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meriden. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to: The John J Nerden RTC Camp, a recreational summer camp, run on donations, for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.

Donations can either be made through the website www.campnerden.com or can be sent to: P.O. Box 2617, Meriden, CT 06450. For online condolences or directions, visit: www.wallingfordfh.com.