Carl F. “Fred” Girard, age 58, of Hailesboro, passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at his home under the loving care of his family and St. Lawrence Valley Hospice and Palliative Care. Fred fought valiantly for two years and four months before losing his battle to leukemia.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 5th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur. The funeral service will be on Friday, May 6th at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Stephen Rocker officiating. Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery.

Fred was born on May 16, 1952 in Gouverneur, to Carl J. and Wilma R. (Weldon) Girard. He graduated from Gouverneur Central School in 1970 and went on to graduate from RIT in 1974, receiving his BA in Business Management.

Fred married Maryann Girardi on July 20, 1980 in Elmwood. The couple owned and operated the Circle Inn Diner for 25 years. Fred served for 10 years as Town Councilman, served on the Gouverneur Volunteer Rescue Squad as an advanced EMT, he was a scuba diver for the rescue dive team, he was a private pilot, he had 8 years in the American Kang Duk Won Karate Association, he was instrumental in aiding the ground work for bringing the Alliance for Municipal Power (AMP), in recent years he had a fond interest in Harley Davidson motor cycles. But his most important accomplishment was being a strong and loving husband and father to his wife and three children.

Fred is survived by his wife, Maryann of Hailesboro; a son, Carl J. “CJ” Girard of Watertown; two daughters, Jennifer A. Girard of Canton and Elizabeth M. “Lizzy” Girard of Hailesboro; his mother, Wilma R. Girard of Gouverneur; two brothers and their wives, Joseph R. and Linda Girard of Hailesboro and James M. and Dianne Girard of Gouverneur; and five sisters and their husbands, Nancy A. and Robert Markert of Wellesley Island, Jeanice M. and Ted Totten of Hailesboro, Michelle A. and Albert Desiderio of Cicero, Jayne M. Carbone of Hailesboro and Jacqueline and Max Tessmer of Fowler.

Fred was predeceased by his father, Carl J. Girard who passed away on February 9, 2006.

Donations may be made in Fred’s memory to the Ryan’s Wish Foundation, P.O. Box 326, Gouverneur, NY 13642 and St. Lawrence Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 6805 US Hwy. 11, Potsdam, NY 13676.