Edward F. Garrepy Jr.

OCALA, Fla. – Edward F. Garrepy Jr., formerly of Winthrop, passed away peacefully on Friday March 26, 2021 surrounded by his loving wife and children.Born on August 11, 1932 in Worcester, Mass., the first of three children to Edward F. Garrepy Sr. and Inez Fitzpatrick Garrepy. He spent his early years in Shrewsbury, Mass. playing baseball as a star left-handed pitcher for local teams and graduating from Shrewsbury High School as president of the class of 1950.Following high school, Edward joined the Naval Reserves and also began his long retail career at the famous central Massachusetts retail store, Spag’s. His retail career spanned over 40 years where he worked at and managed various retail stores and chains, retiring from Grossman’s Lumber Company in 1994 after serving as district manager in the state of Maine for 17 years. Anyone who really knew Ed experienced his love and flair for photography and art. His photos of flowers and landscapes that he often created into notecards brought joy to all who received them. Photo albums and thousands of slides documented a life well lived filled with family and travel around our great country and the world with his favorite travel companion, wife Mary. Edward loved to share his art, often whimsical, with friends and family and loved the joy it brought to the children in his life.An avid athlete in his youth and early life, Ed particularly excelled at baseball. Also, a notorious reader of books, his knowledge of what seemed like everything amazed, especially during his nightly domination of Jeopardy and games of Trivial Pursuit. Fine food and wine, cooking, enjoying and entertaining were a big part of Edward and Mary’s social life with a wonderful group of family and friends through the years. Above all else, Edward loved and honored his wife, Mary, and often commented on his good fortune for having such a wonderful partner in life, referring to her as his savior and saint. Edward took much joy in the lives of his children and in supporting their interests, always passing on great lessons of working to achieve one’s potential while at the same time the value of enjoying life and friendships and the love in one’s life. Time spent with his granddaughter and great-grandchildren brought to him a special kind of joy. Edward is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Mary Helen Kowansky Garrepy; children, Mary Erickson and her husband Bob of Ocala, Fla., son, Mark Garrepy of Scarborough; grandchild, Mary Klemonsky and partner Eric Colon of Simsbury, Conn.; two great-grandchildren, Jaden and Alaia Colon; a sister, Marjorie Gonya of South Grafton, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.Edward is predeceased by his parents, Edward Sr. and Inez; and a sister, Ruthie Capman. Per Ed’s request, no official services will be scheduled; a private family internment will be scheduled at a later date. Edward’s family would like to express their gratitude for the care and kindness shown to him during his fight with cancer, most notably Dr. Norman Anderson who provided care during Ed’s battle as well as the wonderful hospice staff at Cates House who ensured his peaceful passing. Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of Roberts Funeral Home’s website at http://www.familyfirstfh.com


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