Last surviving WWII veteran of Cohoes troop buried in Waterford
WATERFORD, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Wilfred Mailloux - affectionately known as Spike died on May 2nd at 100 years, old leaving behind a rich legacy.
“There's so much about that life that could be said, as Spike was one in a million," said his daughter Maryjean Valigorsky at his funeral on Tuesday. The last surviving member of Company B from Cohoes, Spike served 5 ½ years in the army before being severely wounded in the battle of Saipan.
And it was a soldier’s burial he received Tuesday at St Michael’s Cemetery in Waterford. The flag of the nation he nearly lost his life for draped his casket today— a memento that will now stay with his family.
After returning home, Spike met Jean and the rest was history nearly 8 decades in the making, the couple remained married 77 years. Spike's children Maryjean and Robert remembered a time when their parents were physically separated when Jean had to go away to a nursing home.
"They were able to be reunited Under One Roof, to see them just be so tuned into each other having all their meals together, watching Wheel of Fortune every day together…it was just a blessing."
Wilfred "Spike" Mailloux leaves behind a wife and four children.