Obituary of Raymond Joseph Rousseau

Mr. Raymond Joseph Rousseau, a resident of Ozark, died Monday, September 20, 2021, in the home of his daughter surrounded by his family. He was 94 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Rousseau will be 11:00 A. M. Saturday, September 25, 2021, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark with Father Chris Boutin officiating, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Saturday at the funeral home in Ozark from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Graveside services will be held 10:00 A.M. (Central Time) Monday, September 27, 2021, at Palm Beach Memorial Park in Lantana, Florida with Father Daniel Fink officiating. Interment will follow with Military Honors. Mr. Rousseau was born June 12, 1927 in Uncasville, Connecticut to the late John Ferdinand Rousseau and Emelda Marie Paradise Rousseau. He attended Palmer Town Elementary School and Norwich Free Academy. At the age of 17 he joined the Merchant Marines serving during World War II. In May 1945 Raymond went to Coast Guard Merchant Marine Training at Sheepshead Bay, New York. In 1988 the Merchant Marines were granted Veteran Status. Following his military service, he worked with Connecticut Valley Hospital as Head Chef until his retirement there. He then worked with his son, Peter, as a tile and marble contractor. Mr. Rousseau was a member of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Ozark and St. Mark Catholic Church in Boynton Beach, Florida. He loved gardening, fishing, hunting, cooking and square dancing with his late wife. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Theresa Rousseau; his son, Peter Rousseau; one sister, Anita Cote; and one brother, George Rousseau. Survivors include two daughters, Mary Louise Emery (Floyd) of Ozark and Susan Belcher (Chuck) of Alford, Florida; two sisters, Mary Ann Shusta of Madison, Connecticut and Janet Childress of Winston Salem, North Carolina; nine grandchildren, Melanie, Marc, Jennifer, Jill, Erin, Michael, Kerri, Jared and William. Nineteen great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, several nieces and nephews also survive.