Gilbert P. Desroches

In Loving Memory

South Hadley- Gilbert "Gil" Philip Desroches, 77, of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, passed away September 2, 2025. He was born on January 10, 1948, in Holyoke to the late Edward P. and Cecile (Gauthier) Desroches. Gil grew up in Aldenville and lived in South Hadley with his wife, Cynthia “Cindy” (Roy) Desroches for more than 30 years before retiring to Cape Cod, 17 years ago. 

Gil proudly served in the US Army National Guard from 1966 to 1972 as an SP4 Communications Specialist. He later worked for Bay State Gas (now NiSource), where he was first hired as a street construction worker, and then, over the following 37 years, worked his way to residential and commercial sales before he retired as a Gas Control Operator at the Liquid Natural Gas Plant in Ludlow. 

Gil and Cindy married in 1969 and remained in that loving relationship until his passing.  After getting married, Gil quickly foreshadowed his devotion to his family – he traded his beloved 1966 Chevelle SS muscle car for a more practical (and boring) Volkswagen Beetle.  Gil and Cindy quickly outgrew that car, however, as they went on to have four children who, along with Cindy, were the center of Gil’s life. 

Gil enjoyed being on the cutting the edge of technology and always had the right tool or electronic device for the job, earning him the nickname “Gil Gadget.” He had many hobbies over the years, but his true love was spending time with his family.  He loved his fishing trips with his sons and grandsons, sightseeing with his daughter, playing with his grandchildren on the beaches of the Cape, and trying to convince everyone that his quick-witted “Dad jokes” were funny.  But most of all, Gil loved just being around his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Gil made sure that everyone in the family knew this by regularly telling them, “Love you more than you know.”    

Besides his parents, Gil was predeceased by his brother, Edward Desroches, his sister, Leona Mann, and her husband Randy Mann. 

He will be dearly missed by his wife and their children, Amy Geracitano, her husband Mark, Todd Desroches, his wife Jill, Matt Desroches, Neil Desroches, his wife Sherri, his grandchildren, Tyler "TJ" Broderick, Kate Broderick, Lily Roberts, Max Desroches, Collyn Desroches, and Aiden Desroches, and his great-grandchildren, Leo Huller and Solana Roberts.  He also leaves his brother, Richard Desroches, his wife Portia, sisters-in-law Cecile Desroches, Dee Harrison, her husband Harry, Christine Roy and many beloved nephews and nieces.  

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 4-7pm at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 10am at St. Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the funeral home at 8:30am for a funeral procession. Burial will immediately follow in St. Rose de Lima Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gil's memory can be made to the American Cancer Society by visiting www.donate.cancer.org.