It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Andre (Andy) Joseph Lessard of Biddeford. Andy passed away peacefully on June 6, 2023, just three weeks shy of his 90th birthday, at his favorite place on earth, his home on May Street in Biddeford, with his loved ones by his side.
Born June 26, 1933, to Adrienne and Albert Lessard, Sr. in Biddeford, Andy was one of eight children. He helped his father build his home on May Street in 1948, a home he was proud of until his dying day. Andy was pulled from school at a young age to help support his family and never had the opportunity to graduate from high school.
He proudly served in the US Army for two years during the Korean War then was transferred to the Army Reserve for eight years. After completing his service, he worked as a mechanic at Beech Motors, and then spent 25 years at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a mechanic working on various submarines. He ended his career working at the Biddeford Car Wash where he performed every job there was to keep the car wash operational.
On June 9, 2002, he received an honorary high school diploma from Biddeford High School as the result of a law passed by the state legislature allowing World War II and Korean conflict veterans who missed out on graduating because of military service to apply for their diplomas.
Andy will be remembered for being a kind soul and for his fun-loving, jokester personality. He loved people and loved to kid around with everyone. We all knew that his teasing was a sign of his love for all of us. He was a thoughtful man but he didn’t really want you to know it. He was also funny, dropping one-liners when you least expected it. He was deeply proud of his wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They all enriched his life in so many ways. He was always devoted and dedicated to them.
In his younger years, Andy was a hard worker and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. As he got older, he liked to relax. He loved cars and could quote the year, make, and model of every car he owned. During his 50s, he became enamored with motorcycles and owned a number of them, each one bigger and better than the last. His final motorcycle, a Gold Wing, was the one he was most proud of. Andy loved animals and was always willing to let a stray cat move into the house. He was a down to earth man that loved a simple life. He will be deeply missed.
Andy is survived by his wife, Claire Lessard; his daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and David Watterson; his three grandchildren, Ashley Watterson, Ryan (Vanessa) Watterson, and Sarah (Matt) Kelley; and his five great-grandchildren, Vanessa Watterson, Tyler Watterson, Savannah Kelley, Theo Kelley, and Zoey Watterson. He is also survived by his brother, Donald Lessard, and his sister, Claudette Camire.
Andy is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Phillip, Albert Jr., Raymond, and Roland Lessard, and his sister Simonne Dubois.
In lieu of a service, the family will hold an Open House on Saturday, June 24 from 1-4 p.m. at Andy’s family home at 33 May St. in Biddeford.
Donations in memory of Andy can be made to either the Animal Welfare Society of West Kennebunk or the World Wildlife Fund.
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