AUBURN — Real Gallant, 81, of Lewiston passed away peacefully Friday, Aug. 31, at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, following a long struggle to recover from surgery in December 2017.

Real was born Sept. 21, 1936, in Saint-Ignace, New Brunswick, Canada, to Urbain and Marguerite (Richard) Gallant. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1957, serving as airman second class for the 1707th Flying Training Squadron at Brooklyn Airforce Base in Mobile, Ala.

On Feb. 5, 1959, he married the former Juliette Marie Chevarie in St. Charles, New Brunswick, Canada. Real was employed as an offset pressman at Penmor Lithographers for many years, retiring in 2001.

Over the years, he enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and woodworking. He was incredibly gifted in being able to fix or build most anything, a perfectionist by nature, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to family and friends. Real was a devout Catholic belonging to Holy Cross Parish in Lewiston and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Real was a gentle, quiet man, a listener, supportive and sympathetic, he was humble and was not afraid to admit he was not perfect, but he always did his best and was always considerate of others. He had a wonderful, and sometimes devious, sense of humor, loved a good laugh. He was loved and respected by many. Beyond his family, he was most proud of his service to our country.

Real is survived by his wife, Juliette Gallant; two daughters: Gisele Chabot and her husband, Philip, of Safety Harbor, Fla., and Joyce LaRoche and her husband, Dana Connors, of Gray; a son, Ronald Gallant, and his wife, Laurie, of Oldsmar, Fla.; six grandchildren: Kelley Guite, Kristopher Chabot, Shaina LaRoche, Jacob LaRoche, Ryan Buell and Sean Buell; two siblings: Yvon Gallant and his wife, Thelma, of Auburn, and Emily Martel of Greene; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Urbain and Marguerite; a sister, Fernande Brochu; and a brother-in-law, Maurice Martel.

A Memorial Mass honoring Real’s life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Church. Committal services followed by a military honors service will then follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Those wishing may make donations in Real’s memory to the Hospice House of Androscoggin, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home, 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, Lewiston, 784-4023.

Real Gallant