GERALD R. WILLETT

     Gerald R. Willett, 72, of Charis Road and formerly of Worcester, died in his home with his daughter Michelle by his side on Sunday, November 19, 2017, after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma. He is survived by four children, Steven of Cherry Valley, Deborah of Dudley, Michelle L. Conlon of Worcester, and Sandra A. Willett of Hampton, NH; his brother, Richard F. Willett of Quincy; his sister, Mary M. Brodeur of Oxford; 10 grandchildren, 1 great-granddaughter, and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a brother, Robert K. Willett; and two sisters, Winifred L. Simpson and Louise T. Ritchotte. He was born in Worcester, son of the late Kenneth C. and Louise M. (DesLauriers) Willett, and lived in Worcester and Grafton before moving to Connecticut over 30 years ago.

Mr. Willett was a draftsman for most of his life. He operated his own drafting business in Connecticut for 15 years, retiring in 2009. He was a self-taught artist who enjoyed creating portraits with colored pencil and painting nature scenes. He had a talent for building with wood and enjoyed playing cribbage, playing pitch, bowling, playing chess, collecting movies, and spending time with his family.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. Burial will be private at a later date at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.