Obituary for Gerald Eugene "Gerry" Carnevale
Gerald Eugene Carnevale, 84, a resident of Acton, formerly of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on April 19th at his home surrounded by his loving children. He was a great father whose children adored him and the beloved husband of the late Janet M. (Penta) Carnevale. They shared 52 years of marriage until her passing in 2019.
Gerry was born in Lackawanna, NY, on October 1, 1938 and was a son of the late Antonio and Maria C. (Colello) Carnevale. Both were proud Italian immigrants from the small town of Pico, Italy.
Gerry is survived by older brother Santino Carnevale and predeceased by sister Ena (Carnevale) Fiordeliso and younger brother Joseph Carnevale. He spent his youth in Lackawanna where he was a popular and athletic teenager who played basketball, football and golf as a member of the class of 1956. At 17, he also occasionally worked at Bethlehem Steel, where his father worked, laying track to bring the trains into the Lackawanna factory.
After graduation, Gerry went on to study engineering at Canisius College in Buffalo and then transferred to the University of Detroit where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Soon thereafter he was drafted into the US Army where he spent two years of military service. After leaving the Army, Gerry began working as an engineer with jobs at Sylvania Lighting, Honeywell and Raytheon. He was a dedicated employee of defense contractor, Raytheon Company, where he enjoyed a successful 37 year career before retiring in 2002.
While living in Waltham Massachusetts he met his future wife Janet Penta on a blind date. After marriage in 1967, Gerry and Janet settled in Chelmsford and quickly started a family. Gerry was a devoted and loving Dad who spent long hours working to support his family but who also enjoyed outdoor activities like gardening, golf, tennis and camping. He bought a camper and loved taking his four kids on road trips around New England. In the late 1980s he swapped the camper for a much loved second home on a lake in Poland, Maine.
Gerry continued to travel there well into his 80s and loved puttering around the house, boating, fishing and exploring. After a stroke in 2017, he could no longer drive, but he always asked his children “When are we going to Maine?!!” In addition to Maine, many of his retirement years with Janet were spent in Venice, Florida where they happily escaped the northeast winters. Gerry was an upbeat, optimistic, funny and social person who lit up a room and easily made new friends. He relished giving his children all sorts of practical household help and advice. The engineer in him was organized and meticulous, yet he was equally capable of entertaining his kids with funny made-up songs, sayings and stories. Despite health challenges and the loss of his wife in recent years, he still maintained his positive outlook on life until the end. He will be profoundly missed.
Gerry leaves behind his children, Jennifer Lozada of Cotuit, Joelle Bottasso and her husband Mike of Maynard; John Carnevale of Redondo Beach CA, and James Carnevale and his wife Patricia of Chelmsford, plus his six grandchildren; Samantha and Alexandra Lozada, Madelyn and Jack Bottasso, Massimiliano and Enzo Carnevale.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday April 24th from 4pm-7pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday April 25th at 9am in the funeral home. Interment to follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the American Stroke Association.
Gerry was born in Lackawanna, NY, on October 1, 1938 and was a son of the late Antonio and Maria C. (Colello) Carnevale. Both were proud Italian immigrants from the small town of Pico, Italy.
Gerry is survived by older brother Santino Carnevale and predeceased by sister Ena (Carnevale) Fiordeliso and younger brother Joseph Carnevale. He spent his youth in Lackawanna where he was a popular and athletic teenager who played basketball, football and golf as a member of the class of 1956. At 17, he also occasionally worked at Bethlehem Steel, where his father worked, laying track to bring the trains into the Lackawanna factory.
After graduation, Gerry went on to study engineering at Canisius College in Buffalo and then transferred to the University of Detroit where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Soon thereafter he was drafted into the US Army where he spent two years of military service. After leaving the Army, Gerry began working as an engineer with jobs at Sylvania Lighting, Honeywell and Raytheon. He was a dedicated employee of defense contractor, Raytheon Company, where he enjoyed a successful 37 year career before retiring in 2002.
While living in Waltham Massachusetts he met his future wife Janet Penta on a blind date. After marriage in 1967, Gerry and Janet settled in Chelmsford and quickly started a family. Gerry was a devoted and loving Dad who spent long hours working to support his family but who also enjoyed outdoor activities like gardening, golf, tennis and camping. He bought a camper and loved taking his four kids on road trips around New England. In the late 1980s he swapped the camper for a much loved second home on a lake in Poland, Maine.
Gerry continued to travel there well into his 80s and loved puttering around the house, boating, fishing and exploring. After a stroke in 2017, he could no longer drive, but he always asked his children “When are we going to Maine?!!” In addition to Maine, many of his retirement years with Janet were spent in Venice, Florida where they happily escaped the northeast winters. Gerry was an upbeat, optimistic, funny and social person who lit up a room and easily made new friends. He relished giving his children all sorts of practical household help and advice. The engineer in him was organized and meticulous, yet he was equally capable of entertaining his kids with funny made-up songs, sayings and stories. Despite health challenges and the loss of his wife in recent years, he still maintained his positive outlook on life until the end. He will be profoundly missed.
Gerry leaves behind his children, Jennifer Lozada of Cotuit, Joelle Bottasso and her husband Mike of Maynard; John Carnevale of Redondo Beach CA, and James Carnevale and his wife Patricia of Chelmsford, plus his six grandchildren; Samantha and Alexandra Lozada, Madelyn and Jack Bottasso, Massimiliano and Enzo Carnevale.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday April 24th from 4pm-7pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday April 25th at 9am in the funeral home. Interment to follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the American Stroke Association.