J. David Menard

John David Menard, affectionately known as "Dave", 66, of South Attleboro, MA passed away on August 31, 2023, at the Massachusetts General Brigham Hospital in Boston, MA in the arms of his beloved wife Sandra A. Copley-Menard to whom he was married on March 3, 2000, and surrounded by his loving children and family. Dave and Sandy spent 32 wonderful years together being kindred spirits from the start.
Born on September 21, 1956, in Fall River, MA, he was a son of the late Leon J. Menard, Jr of Middlebury, VT and the late Anna Margaret (Scheeler) Menard of Columbus, OH. He was raised and educated in Swansea, MA graduating from Joseph Case High School where he excelled in woodworking.  Mr. Menard was a communicant of the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish - St. Mark in Attleboro Falls, MA and also attended St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church in South Attleboro, MA.
A talented journeyman carpenter for over 30 years, he was the owner and operator of Menard Construction in South Attleboro, MA.
Dave's passion was sailing.  Since the age of about 7 when he built his first sailboat out of a sheet of plywood, a pole and a piece of leftover canvas, dragged it down to the river and set it afloat, this love of the water and boating transported him to many ports of call and adventures. His carpentry skills combined with his love for the sea and sailing are on display aboard such yachts as the "Spirit of Saint Louis" and the "Spirit of Chicago" on which he did much of the fine carpentry finish work.  He enjoyed hours navigating his current pride and joy, "Blown Aweigh" which he remodeled in 2005.   Dave was a true outdoorsman enjoying hiking, backpacking, sleeping under the stars on snow- capped mountains, birdwatching, archery, hunting, and following in the footsteps of his father and older brother, was a proficient marksman.  His family recalls with astonishment his love for watching "Jeopardy" and how incredibly accurate he was at answering even the most obscure, esoteric questions. He loved music and singing as well as whistling, his children all fondly remember songs he sang with them.  He also loved to cultivate his garden with a myriad of vegetables to feed his vegan lifestyle.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his children: Elizabeth "Lisa" Menard of Phoenix, Arizona; John David Menard of Rehoboth, MA; Adam Burk Menard of South Attleboro, MA and Mackenzie Rose Menard of New Harbor, Maine; his granddaughter: Gaea Menard of Rehoboth, MA; his "chosen child": Jessie Paquette of Cumberland Rhode Island; his siblings: Michelle Ackerman and her husband Ronald of Barnegat, New Jersey; Leon J. Menard III and his wife Kathleen of Swansea, MA; Elizabeth J. Jennings of Somerset, MA; Stephen M. Menard and his wife Sally of Somerset, MA and Mary M. Huftalen and her husband Michael of Rumford, Rhode Island; 26 nieces and nephews; 25 grand-nieces and nephews, Cynthia "Cyndi" Leonard of Barrington, Rhode Island, the mother of Lisa and John; extended family members, members of the Copley family and many dear friends.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend Visitation on Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA, 02763.
The funeral will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 8:30 am from the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish Church - St. Mark, Stanley Street, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA.
Burial will be held privately in St. Mary's Cemetery, North Attleboro at a later date.
Following the Mass of Christian Burial, an invitation will be extended to join the family for a time of continued fellowship and celebration of Dave's life.  A waterside, open-air lunch at The Elk's Club, 52 Bulfinch St, North Attleborough, MA will be accompanied by live music of a local musician.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Dave's honor may be made to the HeartBrothers Foundation, a 501(3)c that supplies accommodations and financial support to heart failure and transplant patients and their families, by accessing: heartbrothers.org.
For additional information or to send his family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com
Arrangements under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA. 508-695-0200.