Jean J. Chenard

Jean J. Chenard, 87, of Manchester, died July 13, 2004, at the Catholic Medical Center, after a long battle with cancer.The eldest of nine children, he was born in Sainte Arsene, P.Q. Canada on January 26, 1917, and was the son of Gerard and Eugenie (Gagnon) Chenard. He moved to Manchester in 1923.

Mr. Chenard was a graduate of the Hevey School of St. Marie Parish, and Manchester High School West class of 1935A. He attended American University, Washington D.C., Officer Candidate School, and Anti-aircraft School, Camp Davis NC.

He moved to Maine in 1939 to work for the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. He was drafted in 1941 and served in the Army both in the United States and in Europe. He was discharged in 1947 with the rank of Major after having served as Foreign Liaison Officer with Shape Headquarters.

From 1947 to 1957 he served with the US State Department as Director General in Germany. He served on the Combined Travel Board, and was director of the Refugee Program in Washington D.C.

In 1958 he joined Catholic Relief Services and served 20 years in Geneva Switzerland. While there he was involved with administering and coordinating the mobilization of resources to meet funding and operational needs of various programs dealing with socio economics, refugee support, responding to disaster situations, and food and nutrition.He served as liaison with several international organizations and government departments.

He had served as President of the Standing Conference, working for refugees, Geneva Switzerland; Secretary of the International Committee for the World Refugee Year, Geneva. He was a member of the Nansen Award Committee and served as chairman of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies, the International Corporation for Socio-Economic Development, Brussels, Belgium, and the League Red Cross Voluntary Agencies Disaster Steering Committee. He was a board member of European Tibetan Committee, and Secretary General joint Church Aid in Geneva. He was a founding member of the Private Voluntary Committee to the European Economic Community.

He served as Senior Director of Operations with Catholic Relief Services in New York from 1978 to 1983. He retired to Manchester in 1984 and remained active as Director/member of Council World Affairs, ACA, and the Intervale Country Club. He was the President of the Class of 1935A, at West High School, and at the time of death was planning another of their reunions.

Family members include his wife whom he married 58 years ago on July 13, Jose Marie (Van Heer) Chenard, of Manchester; a daughter, Cynthia Chenard-Kazior, of Sudbury MA; 2 sons, Claude Chenard, of Minneapolis MN, Christian Chenard of Marlborough MA; 8 grandchildren; two sisters, Francoise H. Chenard, Jeanne d'Arc Chenard, both of Manchester; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Monday from 6pm to 8pm at the Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St., corner of North Street, Manchester.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10am, in Sacred Heart Church, So. Main St. Manchester.

Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Goffstown Rd. Manchester, NH.

Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21298-9664.