Obituary: Armand ‘Frenchy’ Menard, 85, Of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Armand “Frenchy” Cyril Menard of Wallingford, Connecticut passed away on Tuesday, June 28th at the age of 85. After a hard-fought battle with cancer, Frenchy passed away at Midstate Medical Center surrounded by family.

Frenchy was born in Hardwick, Vermont on October 28, 1936, to father George L. Menard and mother Diana E. Menard (Boulias).

Born and raised on a dairy farm, Frenchy had a natural sense of how all things mechanical worked. Often, Frenchy would invent “contraptions” to help make his farm chores easier. After obtaining a GED, Frenchy enlisted in the air force, and was stationed in Nova Scotia during the Korean War. It was there that he earned his nickname that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

When calling for “airmen” over the loud speaker on the base, servicemen would often be confused as “airmen” and “Armand” sounded the same. Thus, Armand became Frenchy.

After his service in Nova Scotia, he met his beautiful wife, Mollie Barton, at a base in Texas; they married in 1958. Shortly afterwards, Frenchy & Mollie moved to Connecticut where they started their family and their business.

After working jobs as a mechanic at various repair shops, Frenchy and Mollie opened their own: Frenchy’s Auto Repair, which is still operating over 40 years later. As a lifelong Wallingford resident, Frenchy served many terms on Wallingford’s Planning and Zoning board, a contribution to his community of which he was very proud.

Frenchy is survived by his wife, Mollie Menard, his siblings, Lionel G. Menard, Ivan A. Menard, Marcelle E. Houde, Terese L Ferguson, Marie M. Yeager, and Cecile Valcour; children Mitzi Sinclair, Joseph and Alison Menard, Robin Hawthorn, Joshua Menard and Nicole Dionne; grandchildren Sara and Joshua Brody, Amber and Steve Hasler, Armand and Sarah Menard, Laura and Joshua Chase, Jessie and Joshua DePonte, Emma Hawthorn & Kyle Lyde; great-grandchildren William & Abner Brody, Kaylee and Kaiya Hasler, Aurora & Asher Menard, Dylan & Hannah Chase, Maxwell and Mollie DePonte. Frenchy was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings John L Menard, Arthur W. Menard, Leo E Menard, Martha S. Menard, Denise Bushey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Fatima, 382 Hope Hill Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492, on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 at 11 a.m. with a private family burial following. A Celebration of Life reception will follow at the Hartford Healthcare Reception Room at the Oakdale Theater, 95 S Turnpike Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492 at 1 p.m.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.