John A. Desmarais' Obituary
John was born on January 7, 1941 and left this world to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 4, 2022 after a long battle with cancer. John’s family; wife (Collette), three daughters (Christel, Diane, Madelene), two grandsons (Marc, John), and two great granddaughters (Paige, Baylee); were all able to be with him this previous Christmas 2021.
After graduating high school, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corp from 1960 – 1964. John was part of the Solant Amity Cruises in the 1960s, the principal responsibility of which was to function as a United Nation’s oversight “peacekeeping” force in the Congo region. Specifically, he served as an Admiral’s Aide, touring the west of Africa around the Cape of Good Hope. John was also involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, helping to prevent Russia from entering Cuba. After an honorable discharge from the US Marine Corp, John then went to Providence College in Rhode Island from 1964 – 1968 where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Services. John and Collette were married in May 1965. Their first two daughters were born in 1966 and 1967 in Providence Rhode Island. They moved to the Ft, Myers Florida area in 1968 and in 1969 had their third daughter.
Throughout his career, John worked for the State of Florida as a social worker, and later as the assistant superintendent at a facility for the mentally challenged. He became a Medical Administrator for the North Florida prison system in when the family moved to the Gainesville Florida area in 1986. John retired from the State of Florida in 1999. He and Collette then moved from High Springs to The Villages in 2005. John became very active in their church, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood. He was the only maintenance man around the church for several years and active in the Knights of Columbus Council 13300 in their formative years at St. Vincent’s from 2005 – 2010.
John was a humble quiet man always pitching in where and when needed and showed genuine concern for others. Family was John’s most important accomplishment.
Come help John’s family celebrate his life and all his accomplishments:
Family’s Personal Request
As the Desmarais family has several members with compromised immune systems, it is requested that all those attending any function listed below be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including any boosters, and wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose.
For those wishing to attend that have not been vaccinated, please wear a mask covering the mouth and nose and maintain a social distance of 6 feet.
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Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
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