The late Willie Lemay was one of those rare individuals who always showed up with a smile on his face. He was part of the Gabriel Homes Work Crew, a group of retired individuals who meet once a month to help maintain our many homes. The work crew kindly referred to Willie as “Mr. Happy” and many are here today to celebrate their friend.
His granddaughter Katie Lemay described Willie as “a dedicated volunteer who deeply believed in the mission of helping adults with disabilities live independently. His support went beyond service — he truly saw the value in every individual and worked to help make independent living a reality.”
Mickey, a lifetime friend and former co-worker, served with Willie on the Work Crew for years. He has fond memories of painting, landscaping, and repairing holes in the walls. But one of his funniest memories was when Willie attempted to control the critter situation in one of the homes. Willie climbed up in the attic and easily threw an overkill of moth balls in the attic to keep the critters out. It may have worked, but it also created such a strong smell that it also kept the residents out! After complaints, Willie had to figure out a way to go back to the attic and reduce the number of moth balls like an adult version of an easter egg hunt. Mickey says with a smile on his face, “The workday will not be the same without Willie. We miss him so much because he meant so much. He is an individual who liked everyone, and everyone loved him.”