Raymond Charles Bertrand

LITCHIELD – Raymond “Ray” Charles Bertrand, age 81 of Litchfield, married to Joanne Bertrand for 55 years, entered into peaceful rest on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in St. Vincent’s Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

Son of the late Armand “Pepere” and Denise “Memere” Bertrand, he was born in Waterbury and spent summers in Pierreville, Quebec. He met Joanne in Waterbury, at a coffee shop, and they married in 1969. He adored Joanne until the very day he died, always calling her his best friend.

He studied to become a teacher at CCSU and taught for a few years until he found his passion for sales. Ray was successful in CNC machine sales but considered true success to be a well-balanced, loving and joyful life.

Ray was the lead singer in a Rock and Roll band called THE FOAM in the 60s and 70s. They played throughout Connecticut and New York and had several original songs that they recorded at a studio in New York City. Extremely talented with instruments, percussions  and piano, he sang, whistled, and tapped his way through life.

Ray’s family had a summer home on the Saint Francis river in Quebec, Canada, and spent many summers enjoying time with his family, fishing and boating on the river, and visiting with Aunts, Uncles, and cousins from Canada.

Ray was an avid athlete, he ran road races with his daughters, loved to water ski and snow ski, pedal biked to Canada from CT achieving a “Deuce” (200 miles in a one day) each summer. Ray enjoyed boating and spent many summers towing friends and family around Bantam Lake. He taught so many family members the joy of being active.

Ray and Joanne had a beautiful love story and cherished their children and grandchildren to the fullest. His family was the pride and joy of his life and so many remember that all he could talk about was his six incredible grandchildren. He was a staple on the sidelines of every sporting event or theater performance they participated in.

Ray was truly one-of-a-kind and spent most of his joyous life smiling, laughing, enjoying friends and family, and making friends everywhere he went. He was always the first and last one on the dance floor, usually the loudest in the room (in the best way), the biggest cheerleader in the stands, was generous with his heart, and inspired many to enjoy life to the fullest while always putting family first.

Ray will be missed by all of those who had the honor of knowing him, including his beloved wife, Joanne, and his loving daughters, Bryna Avenia and Jenna Krieger, alongside their husbands, Aaron and Dave. Ray had six adored grandchildren who lit up his world, Sydney and Ryan Krieger, and Kaylyn, Andrew, Carly and Aiden Avenia. He is also survived by his cherished older brother, Marcel Bertrand “Bert”, of Plymouth.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at 10:00am at the Immaculate Conception in downtown Waterbury. A luncheon for all family and friends will follow at San Marino’s, 111-23 Thomaston Ave, Waterbury.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) www.hdsa.org.