Henry J. Chouinard

Henry J. Chouinard, 90, died peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2018 at Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport. Born in Ipswich on January 28, 1927 to Albert and Agnus Chouinard, both immigrants from Canada, Henry grew up on High Street an only child. Later in life, he and his wife Gemma made their home on Broadway Avenue where they raised their three children, Diana, who lost her battle with cancer; Timothy, who currently lives in Groveland; and Monica, who currently resides in Georgetown. Throughout his life, Henry was a devoted civil servant. In addition to being a longtime foreman for the Ipswich Water Department, he was also a call fireman with the Ipswich Fire Department for more than thirty years. He fought many local fires, including the one that destroyed Grossman's. Ipswich Today featured an image of Henry atop the burning building along with coverage of that blaze. (Unfortunately for him, that photo was evidence that he was not, as he had told his wife, staying clear of danger.) Even in his retirement, Henry kept busy working as a custodian at the Ipswich High School, the First National Bank, and the Ipswich Savings Bank. He also took pleasure in helping maintain his daughter Monicas home, and was always ready to lend a hand in the yard or around the house. In his rare moments of leisure, Henry enjoyed golfing, his Saturday-morning tradition of breakfast with friends and his son at the Agawam Diner in Rowley, listening to polka music, and taking day trips with his longtime friend and companion, Lucy Jenkins. He also loved visiting Disney World in Florida, and made his final trip there with his son, daughter, and granddaughter, Bayley, in the fall of 2016. Henry had the company of family when he passed, and will be missed by family and friends alike.

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