It is with a heavy heart that the family of the late Gerald William Gillard announce his passing after a brief illness.  Gerald passed peacefully away in the presence of his sister-in-law, Golda and her husband, James Byrne, at the Central Health Hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor on January 13, 2023, at the age of 88 years.

Gerald is predeceased (Sept 2021), by his wife of 58 years, Andrea (Pretty); parents, Percy and Irene (Huxter) Gillard; parents-in-law, Edmund and Lucy (Gates) Pretty and brothers-in-law, Rex Pretty, Patrick Dowdall and Ed Stevenson.

Left to mourn and celebrate his life are his brother Carl (Patricia) of Springdale; sisters-in-law, Melva Dowdall, Georgetown ON; Beryl Stevenson, Milton ON and Golda (Jim) Byrne, Reidville NL; and many nieces, nephews, and friends, especially special friends from Buchans and Baie Verte.

Gerald was born in Buchans and raised in Springdale. An avid outdoors man, he spent many hours in the woods hunting, fishing and rabbit catching with his buddies. A great supporter of his community, he was a member of and held a variety of positions in several organizations.  His contributions were recognized by awards such as honourary Life Member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIMM) and Life Member of the Kinsmen.  While in Buchans he was a member of the Buchans Lions Club and a member of the Army Reserve – 166 Royal Canadian Engineers and an associate member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Buchans and Baie Verte. Gerald was a Millwright by trade and worked for several years in Buchans with the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) before moving to Baie Verte in 1967 to work for Advocate Mines.

Gerald's family wishes to thank the staff at the White Bay Retirement Living Home in Baie Verte and the Springdale Retirement Living Home where he lived for the past three years.  Your kindness and care were always greatly appreciated!  A special thank you to Grand Falls Hospital Doctors, Nurses and Staff, especially those in Emergency and Acute Care 4 ^th floor, for their compassionate caring during Gerald's last days.

At Gerald's request, cremation has taken place.

A celebration of his life will be held at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Baie Verte, NL on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 11 am. Interment will follow in Buchans.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Buchans Community Cemetery, Buchans, NL A0H 1G0 or e-transfer to the Cemetery Committee Chair, at loisthornhill@yahoo.ca or to a charity of one's choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Baie Verte, NL A0K 1B0.