Adelard Joseph (Dell the Barber) Girard went to join his wife in Heaven Thursday, September 12, 2013 at the age of 94. He was born March 5, 1919 in Berlin, New Hampshire.
As a young boy is Berlin, Dell or “AJ” as he was sometimes called, spoke only French and played on a hockey team. Dell joined the Army in his teens and served in World War II. While in training at Camp Hulen near Palacios, Texas he met and married his wife Ray Elizabeth Stapp. They were married October 18, 1941. Dell and Ray had three children and after leaving the military, they lived in Port O’Connor.
Dell was a well liked member of the community. You could always count on a smile and a handshake or even a hug from him. He loved telling fishing and hunting stories as he worked as the town’s barber for 67 years before retiring at age 92. He attended Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church faithfully and was a prayerful man.
In his life Dell enjoyed his family, growing a robust garden, fishing, hunting and laughing. He also was a great artist, drawing quick cartoon sketches for his grandchildren. He kept those around him entertained with his humorous stories and pranks. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Dell is preceded in death by his wife Ray Elizabeth Mars (Stapp), by his son Rene J. Girard, by his parents, Joseph A. Girard and Ernestine (Glaude) Girard, by his brothers: Henry, Bob, Roger and Rene Girard and by his sisters: Sadie Pelletier, Lena Ouelette and Clara Glaude.
Dell is survived by his daughters: Betty Dell (Girard) and her husband Jimmy Causey and Mary Elizabeth (Girard) and her husband Michael Hawes and by his grandchildren: Tamara (Causey) and husband Mark Talarico, Holly (Causey) and husband Darrell Prather, Penny (Causey) and husband Rocky Clark, Sgt. Dana Girard, Meredith (Hawes) and husband David Steves, Hugh and wife Lindsay (Boyd) Hawes and by his great-grandchildren: James Talarico, Madeleine Talarico, Clayland Prather, Joey Prather, Julia Prather, Jake Clark, Nicholas Clark, Delaney Steves, Mirielle Steves, Mitchell Steves, Addison Hawes, Eden Hawes and Baby Hawes (on the way).
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to his many friends, to the caring nurses and staff at Citizens Medical Center Hospital, to Drs. Leggett, White and Meyer, to the Palliative Care Team, to Hospice of South Texas, to Twin Pines Nursing Home, and to Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home.
Services were held at two o’clock in the afternoon Monday, the 16th of September, at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, in Port O’Connor, with Father Dan Morales officiating, with a reception held at Saint Joseph Catholic Church Hall following the services. His body was laid to rest in Port O’Connor Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.
