Dudley: Daniel Girard, 59, of Dudley, passed away on March 31, 2026. Born and raised in Southbridge, he was the son of Pauline (LaFleche) Girard and the late Joseph "Sonny" Girard.

Danny was the beloved husband of Michelle (Hall) Girard for 33 years. In addition to his mother, Pauline Girard of Sturbridge, he is survived by his children, Hunter Girard of Dudley and Abigail (Girard) Rose and her husband, Tayler of Fitchburg; his siblings, Deborah (Girard) Desforges and her husband Peter of Southbridge, and David Girard and his wife Lorraine of East Moriches, NY; and his cherished granddaughter, Arev Rose, of whom he was an immensely proud Pépère, affectionately known as "Chicken." He was predeceased by his father, Joseph "Sonny" Girard.

Danny was a graduate of Southbridge High School and proudly served his country in the United States Army. Following his military service, he attended Worcester State University, earning a degree in Occupational Therapy. He went on to dedicate many years to helping others through his work in Occupational Therapy, most recently serving as Deputy Director of MassHealth Home-Based Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Outside of his professional life, Danny was a man of many passions. He was an avid gardener (aka Farmer Dan the Pickle Man) and found great joy in the craft of blacksmithing. A familiar face in the local cycling community, he participated in numerous fundraisers for the MS Society and the Pan-Mass Challenge. Danny will be remembered for his unwavering presence, his strength as a leader and provider, and his gift for making others laugh. Guided by his devotion to family, he was always working to grow, improve, and set an example for those he loved, including his nieces and nephews he held close to his heart. He was the kind of man who was always there when he was needed most, and his love and laughter will live on in all who knew him.

Calling hours for Danny will be held on Sunday, May 3rd, from 1:00 to 4:00pm in the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a service to follow in the funeral home at 4:00pm.  Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Danny's memory to the following organizations that were close to his heart, the National MS Society online at www.nationalmssociety.org or to the Pan-Mass Challenge online at www.pmc.org .