Greece/Conesus Lake: At age 96, Ray passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Friendly Home in Rochester, New York. He was born in Syracuse, NY to the late William and Ida (CinqMars) Gendron. Ray is predeceased by his beloved wife, Ann (Connaughton) Gendron, his brothers, Paul, Henry and Don Gendron, his sister, Jeanne Wilson and his son-in-law; Randy Smith. Survived by his children; James (Theresa) Gendron, Julie Smith, his grandchildren; Nicole Smith, Shane Smith, Emily Gendron, and Connor Gendron, his sisters-in-law Catherine Connaughton & Rosemary Oesterly along with several nieces and nephews.
Ray was a physicist in the research department at Kodak for 30 years. He was a devout Catholic and a parishioner at Our Mother of Sorrows church from1961 until 2018 when he moved to Conesus Lake. At MOS, Ray took leadership positions in the the PTA and the Parish Council. He taught catechism, worked every festival, and helped run Bingo along with his beloved Ann for decades. He volunteered at Unity Hospital, donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus to name a few. Ray and Ann wintered in Panama City Beach for twenty years and they were active at St. Bernadette’s parish there as well.
He was an alumni from one of the first graduating classes at LeMoyne College. He was a Navy veteran & pilot during the WWII era. He married Ann Connaughton in 1957. He always enjoyed sports especially the Bills. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with Ann, bicycling, golfing, mall walking and walking the Charlotte Pier. He always had a curious mind, loved reading, continuously learning & “hitting the beads” every day for various intentions.
Friends and family are invited to call from 5-7PM on Friday, April 1, 2022 at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, 21 Big Tree Street in Livonia. Raymond’s Funeral Mass will take place at 10AM on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 6591 Richmond Mills Road in Livonia, NY. Interment will immediately follow Ray’s funeral service at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, in Rochester, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105. To share a memory or a condolence, please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com