Adele Girard

Adele Girard, a woman of gentle spirit and boundless compassion, passed away peacefully at home on March 15, surrounded by her beloved children. She was 94. Born on January 21, 1932, to Maurice and Geneva Osman, she was raised with deep affection by her adoptive mother, Aida Feser, in Sunnyside, Queens. Her childhood summers at Rockaway Beach created memories she treasured throughout her life. A graduate of the Professional Children's School, Adele excelled in dance and acrobatics.

In 1959, she married the love of her life, Pierre Girard, who predeceased her in 2008. Together they created the large, loving family she had always dreamed of, raising ten children with unwavering devotion. One daughter, Michelle Georgette, passed away in infancy in 1962. Adele poured her heart into motherhood, nurturing her children with strong faith, a love of learning, and a firm command of English grammar. She delighted in reading to them, bringing stories to life with dramatic flair and a range of voices that left a lasting impression.

She cherished her years in the close-knit Bayside, Queens garden apartment community before the family moved to Huguenot on Staten Island in 1976. A lifelong Episcopalian, she remained a faithful parishioner at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church for more than forty years. Kind, soft-spoken, and generous, Adele found joy in family gatherings, her beloved pets, horror movies, chocolate-covered cherries, good coffee, Tabu perfume, reading, and an extra dry martini with four olives. She shared a special bond with her sister Carol, who predeceased her in 2013, and the two created many humorous memories together despite their shared lack of directional sense.

Adele is survived by her children Marc, Janine (Jack), Micheline, Gabrielle (Christopher), Christian, Noel (Susanne), Justin (Samantha), Laurence (April), and Roger; her grandchildren Angelique, Brandon, Brigitte, Christopher, Dylan, Francesca, Gavin, Gregory, James, Kaeden, Marissa (Ted), Matthew, Monique, Natalie, Ryan, Spencer, Steven, and Vanessa; and her great-grandchildren Trent and Kanan. Her warmth, quiet humor, and steadfast love remain a cherished gift to all who knew her.