Harvey J.C. Croteau

Harvey J. C. Croteau, 95, peacefully went home to Jesus, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at his home surrounded by his wife, children, spouses and some grandchildren, as they all placed their hands over him and prayed. Harvey was born in Fitchburg, MA on March 3, 1929. He is the third child of seven children, born to the late Rose Alma “Robillard” and Albert J. Croteau. 

He attended Immaculate Conception School through sixth grade, when he had to quit school to work to help his family. He never stopped working after that. 

He was a long time member of Immaculate Conception Church and when he got older, he was involved in the Knights of Columbus. In the spring of 1951, Harvey had a premonition of being drafted, so, on the way home from a date, he stopped by the recruiters office and his draft notice was on the table. Between there and his home, he and mom decided to get married. 

He married Lucille Currier on March 17, 1951. She was the one and only girl he ever dated and loved. Together they built a marriage on faith, trust and love. They were married 73 years and 9 months. This union was eventually blessed with 7 children. 

He went into the army on March 29, 1951 during the Korean War. He was selected to go to Korea three times. Twice, volunteers went in his place. The third time, they were expecting a baby and his commanding officer wouldn’t send him. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, Battery C, of the 58th Anti Air Artillery, Automatic Weapons Battalion, of the 1st Armored Division (Old Iron Side), as a radio operator (morse code), and was honorably discharged on March 28, 1953, at the rank of Corporal.

His involvement in his church continued with his wife and family. After moving to Leominster, MA in 1965, his family attended St Cecilia’s Church, the same church they got married in. 

In 1976, he moved some of his family to south Florida where, for 44 years, they attended St. Joan of Arc Church. (eventually, all 7 of his children, their spouses, and families moved to join them) After moving to Boynton Beach in 2020, they attended St Thomas More which they immediately fell in love with. 

In his younger years, Harvey worked at Falulah Paper Co in Fitchburg, MA until 1960 when he took over Croteau’s Radio & TV Repair Co, his dad’s TV repair business,. During that time he belonged to several electronic groups. He worked that business until 1976, when he moved his family to Florida.. After the move, and doing odd jobs to support his family, he purchased Gerald Vance Electronics in Boca Raton circa 1978. When he closed that shop, he worked from home as Harvey’s TV Repair Service and also installed garage door openers until he retired. 

During his time in Florida, he belonged to the Florida Electronic Services of America group. Even after he retired from the TV repair business, he never stopped working. He was a great craftsman, repair person, plumber, electrician, roofer, carpenter, you name it, he could do it. 

His children benefited from his experience from the projects he made them, to helping with anything they needed. He also gave them all, girls included, the skills to do all of this, and anything they would ever need to survive. Dad was very resourceful in making anything mom or any of the kids needed. From building 3 wall units, 2 doll houses, foot and head boards for a bed, reindeers and sleigh, to a wooden utensil for taking toast out of the toaster…..the list goes on and on. 

Harvey loved to dance and was often seen dancing at the roller skating rink before entering the service. For several years later, he was seen nearly every week dancing at the Amvets, where he was a member, dancing to the music played by his brother, Francis Croteau. His favorite partner was his wife, followed by his daughters. He loved that several of his siblings, and in-laws were also there to enjoy each others company. 

Harvey loved to play the guitar, piano, organ, accordion, and fiddled some with the violin. Our house was always filled with music and laughter. He passed down his love of music to his children and grandchildren, several of whom took after him in playing different instruments. 

His wife and children will forever treasure, cherish and miss the love of their husband and dad. He is the best husband to his one and only love, and the very best daddy any children could have. 

We are all so grateful for the faith and love he passed down to all of us. We will forever miss his laughter, his jokes, his advice, his help, and his crazy ways, (like him asking all the young children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren, to “pull my finger”). We’ll remember after his hearing started to go, how he would “interpret” what he thought we said. He was the first to laugh when we repeated what we really said. We’ll remember always how strong he was, what a fighter he was, and what a great daddy he is. 

We’ll remember how everyone who met him loved him, and so will those who never met him in person, but fell in love with him anyway. We’ll miss his kindness, compassion, and sympathetic nature, and how he was always so romantic with our mom, always bringing her a card and a gift for any special occasion. 

Besides his parents, Harvey was preceded in death by his adored grandson, who carried his middle name, Matthew Joseph Cole, his two brothers, Albert (and Julie) Croteau, and Francis Croteau, his beloved sister, Generia (Jenny) Urato, and her husband, Joe Urato, his brothers-in-law, Vic Boisvert, Robert Dyke, Leo Vaillancourt, & Harold Mathon. 

Besides his most beloved wife, to whom he was united in Holy Matrimony, Lucille (Currier) Croteau, the one he held hands with every day, and kissed whenever he walked by her, he leaves behind a total of 64 descendants! They include 7 children and their spouses: Tricia (Tim) Cole, Michael (Marian) Croteau, Robert (Darleen) Croteau, Debby (Kal) Debski, Cindy (Vince) Murray, Michele (John) Smart, and Kenny (Nicole) Croteau. He also leaves behind 20 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren, and 3 who are to be born January, February, and March, for a soon to be total of 30 great-grandchildren. 

He also leaves behind, 3 much loved sisters, Theresa Vaillancourt, Irene Mathon, and Alberta (Carl) Hebert, and a sister-in-law, Beverly Croteau. 

Harvey also leaves behind a multitude of nieces & nephews, cousins, “friends who are like family”, beloved neighbors from wherever they lived, and too many friends to ever count, some of whom he never actually met in person. He was indeed well loved by everyone he met whether in person, or never met, but fell in love with him just by stories shared by his family. 

The family would like to thank each and everyone of you who have reached out to them, and who have prayed our dear husband and daddy through some rough times the last few years. While there are literally hundreds of you, and we can’t respond individually to every single one of you, please know that every text, FB message, phone message, and FB post has been read and/or listened to, and was received with the love it was intended. You all hold a special place in our hearts, whether it’s by family ties, or ties from beloved friends of mom and dad, or of all the children and grandchildren and for that we are forever grateful. We felt every prayer and all the love you sent. 

Please join us for a celebration of life of, a beloved husband, “Daddy, daddy, daddy”, Old man, Dad, Pops, Poppy, Popster, Papa, Pop-Pop, Pèpèrè, Pepe, Super-Papa & Grampa-Bum, at the funeral mass to be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10935 S Military Trail, Boynton Beach, FL, on Monday, January 13, 2024 at 10:00 am. 

Military honors will be held at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S State Rd 7, Lake Worth, FL at 2:30 pm. Please assemble in Lane #3 by 2:15 PM if attending services at the cemetery on Monday.

A reception will follow at the home of Michele Smart. Please call one of his children for the address.