William "Bill" Patenaude's Obituary
William “Bill” Patenaude, 79, of Methuen, Massachusetts, passed away on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Nevins Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Born and raised in Methuen, he was the beloved son of the late William and Mary Sheehan Patenaude. Bill graduated from Tenney High School and Bridgewater State University.
A proud Vietnam Veteran, Bill served with the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade, the “Sky Solders”. After returning from serving in Vietnam, Bill joined the US Army Reserves and the US Airforce Reserves for a total of 27 years of dedicated service. His military service was one of the greatest sources of pride in his life. He cherished the bonds formed with fellow servicemen and especially enjoyed attending the 173rd Airborne Brigade reunions each year, where he could connect with this brothers in arms and celebrate their shared service.
Through his work in social services, Bill consistently went above and beyond to help those in need. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor, his love of a good joke or harmless prank, and his ability to bring smiles and laughter to everyone around him. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Bill is survived by his son, Jonathan Patenaude of Newburyport, Massachusetts; his daughter, Pamela Giantonio and her husband, Matthew, of Pelham, New Hampshire; and his five grandchildren, Blake, Benjamin, Brody, Brooklyn, and Stella, who brought him great pride and joy.
He leaves a sister behind, Margaret Heichman and her husband, Jeff;
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 at the Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. For online condolences and other information please visit us at https://www.breenfunreralhome.com.
A Military Burial will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
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