HUDSON - Kenneth "Popeye" D. Girouard, 66, of Hudson and York Beach, Maine, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at UMass Medical Center after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer.  He was the husband of Sheila C. (McDevitt) Girouard.  They would have celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on Oct. 13.  Born and raised in Marlborough, he was the son of Doris M. (Walcott) Girouard of Marlborough and the late Donald K. Girouard.  Ken was a 1963 graduate of Hudson Catholic High School where he played many sports, but was famous for his football abilities.  He was inducted into its Football Hall of Fame, and was a former player for the Marlborough Shamrocks.  He was a supervisor in the Line Department for Mass Electric for 34 years, retiring in 2004.  He also served in Army National Guard.  He enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, woodworking, biking, travelling and relaxing at the beach at Long Sands.  He also loved to dance.  He was a member of the Elks Lodge #959 in Hudson and will be remembered for the fun-loving, caring man he was. He loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events.  Popeye will be dearly missed by all who knew him.  Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Timothy C. Girouard of Somerville and a daughter, Heidi E. Currin and her husband, Erick, of Hudson; a brother, David Girouard and his wife, Joyce, of Wrentham; four grandchildren, Trevor and Kayla Currin of Hudson and Maxwell and Tyler Girouard of Georgetown; and four nephews and nieces. He was the grandfather of the late Jacob D. Currin of Hudson.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Church, 21 Manning Street, Hudson. Following cremation, burial will be private. Calling hours will be held Monday, Oct. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home ( www.CollinsFuneral.com ), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Our Danny Cancer Fund, UMass Medical School/UMass Memorial Development Office, 333 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545 (508-856-5520) . All are invited to sign Ken's online guestbook at www.CollinsFuneral.com .