Ayotte, Eugene P.

Eugene P. Ayotte, 91, widower of Ruth B. Ayotte, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at his home. He resided in East Hartford for almost 60 years prior to moving to South Windsor last summer. He was born in Van Buren, Maine, the son of the late Patrick and Phoebe (Martin) Ayotte. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 5th Surgical Mobile Army Hospital, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. After his tour of duty, he went into the furniture business and worked for a number of furniture stores before opening his own store, Living Room Plus, in the 1980's. He loved watching Uconn basketball, both the men's and women's games, and was a huge Red Sox fan. His greatest joy came from spending time with his grandsons and his great-grandchildren. From sitting on the sidelines watching his grandsons play sports, to playing cribbage with them at family gatherings, to sneaking M&M'S to the little ones, Gene lit up when he was around them. In recent years, Gene could be found in his garage creating beautiful wood projects. He was known for his birdhouses, but he created beautiful gifts for his family from barns the size of dollhouses, trains and wooden trucks, corn hole games for all his grandsons, to most recently jewelry/treasure boxes for his greatgranddaughters. He is survived by his children: Lisa Jean Bento and her husband Leo of Hebron, Diane Mccabe and her husband Timothy and Gary Ayotte and his wife Dani, both of South Windsor. He was Grandpa to his seven grandsons: Matthew Mccabe and his wife Jennifer, Jeffrey Mccabe and his wife Sarah, Bryan Mccabe and his wife Olivia, Archer Bento, Gregory Bento, Scott Bento and Phillip Ayotte. He was known as Pépé to his 5 great-grandchildren: Chase, Emma, Riley, Ellie and Payton Mccabe. He is also survived by his sister Patricia Dumont, numerous in-laws, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, Gene was predeceased by his brothers Joel, Claude and Gilman Ayotte, and his sisters Yvette Garvey, Mariette Delong, Carmen Ayotte and Juliette Ayotte. His family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, from 4-7 p.m., at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Rd., South Windsor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 10 a.m., meeting directly at St. Edmund Campion Parish, St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer St., East Hartford. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Hillside Cemetery in East Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fisher House Connecticut, which provides temporary housing to Veterans and their families while receiving treatment at the VA Hospital in West Haven. Donations can be made out to VA Connecticut Healthcare System and mailed to VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Fisher House (135F), Attn: Amanda Salthouse Program Manager, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516. For online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com