Essex Junction - Alexandre W. Hamel, 95, died unexpectedly on Tuesday April 21, 2020 at the UVMMC in Burlington, following a fall at his home.
Alex was born, one of twelve children, at home in St. Vianney, Matepedia, Quebec on Feb. 18, 1925, the son of Alphonse and Regina (Chalifour) Hamel.
He was married to Helene Hamel who predeceased him in 1983.
On July 1, 1986, he married Caryl Anderson Zarinski in Holy Family Catholic Church in Essex.
Alex attended schools in Canada and immigrated to the US in 1948 and became a US Citizen in 1959. He learned the sheet metal trade while working for Coffey and Teachout and became a master mechanic. He went to work at VT Heating and Ventilating in 1964, retiring in 1999. He needed to be busy and use his exceptional skills and went to work at Precision Air in 2002, where he still worked part time. He also worked for Fab Tech and Leader Evaporator.
Alex was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 70 years. He sang in the St. Lawrence and Holy Family Choirs for over 65 years. He had a wonderful voice and performed in several musicals at the Grange.
Alex enjoyed gardening and had huge gardens at his camp in Chazy, NY and at his home and was very generous giving vegetables to neighbors and friends. In his earlier years he enjoyed ice fishing, skiing and roller skating.
He was proud to have designed and built his own heating system for his home so he could heat his home and water with wood. He also chopped and split the wood that he burned. He also loved playing cribbage and duplicate at the Senior Center.
He loved his grandchildren very much and enjoyed babysitting for John and Katie when they were preschoolers, teaching them French and math skills.
In addition to Caryl, Alex is survived by his children Dominic Hamel of Springfield, MA., Michelle (Bill) Dickens of Winsted, CT., Susan (Steven) Cousino of Milton, Patrick (Lila) Hamel of Duxbury, his son-in-law Ken Fundis of Milton, his grandchildren Helene, David, Stephen, Matthew, Raina, Amy, Cara, Noah, John, Katie, Nathan, Jonathon, Luke, Lee Ann and Alex, his sisters Jeanne, Claire, Clothide and Solange and his brothers Simonn and Leo. He was predeceased by Caryl's son and daughter Michael Zarinski and Carolyn Fundis, both in 2019.
There will be no services at this time.
A Graveside service will be held in the Holy Family Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Online condolences may be made to www.minorfh.com