Aline Gould

Aline Gould was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and a wonderful friend to all who knew her. Active throughout her life, she made the most of each and every moment. Her wonderful collection of memories and natural sense of humor will remain dear to her special family and friends forevermore.

Aline’s story begins in the year 1940. Leon and Irene (Trudeau) Beauregard welcomed home their youngest daughter, Aline, on March 26th in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Born the seventh child of the Beauregard family, her birth brought much happiness into their loving home.

Growing up, there was never a dull moment in Aline’s life. She lived a typical childhood of those who grew up in the early 1940s. She attended St. Louis Catholic School until the seventh grade then switched to Woonsocket Public Schools. She participated on the drill team and practiced her formations to perfection. Her growing up years were filled with many special occasions and celebrations despite the hardships during tough economic times. Having a large family meant there was constant energy in the family home. Though she ended up leaving high school early, she was proud to help support her family and found work making men’s jackets. A detail-orientated person, she was well-suited for work in the field.

Not to be forgotten was the meeting of Claude Gould, who stole her heart from their very first meeting. He was visiting Woonsocket while on leave from the United States Navy. They quickly became friends and started officially dating after she turned sixteen. Before long, they joined in marriage on October 4, 1958. As newlyweds, they relocated back to Claude’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he worked for his father’s trailer rental company as they made plans to start a family. Once their children arrived, Aline stayed home to care for them. When the opportunity to move to Kalamazoo to work for Contractor Machinery Company presented itself, Claude jumped at the chance! He and Aline packed up the family and headed south for a new life and new friendships. Kalamazoo proved to be the perfect setting to start their life together and raise their kids. They remained here for the rest of their married years.

As parents, Claude and Aline were two of the finest. Loving and caring, they were always willing to listen as well as manage to support Ted and Kimberly in their many endeavors. As a family, they enjoyed vacations back to Rhode Island to visit Aline’s family. They looked forward to staying at her sister Violet’s home and playing in the pool room while the adults visited upstairs. A highlight of these years was their family trip to Las Vegas where they stopped at all the tourist traps and then took in the remarkable views of the Grand Canyon and other local sites. They shared a beautiful life and wanted nothing but the very best for their children.

Aline took great pride in maintaining the family home but had no trouble doling out chores to the kids. A marvelous cook, she loved entertaining and hosting gatherings for family and friends. Her lasagna, among many other things, was always cooked from scratch. Her skills in the kitchen came from a long lineage from her mother and her sisters. Aline looked forward to hosting family at their home on Iroquois over the years where they could enjoy the pool and backyard. To balance her busy years as a mother, Aline enjoyed crafting to keep her creative flair stoked as well as an outlet for the typical challenges of motherhood.

In her later years, Aline savored her role as grandmother. She enjoyed helping care for T.J. while his parents worked during the day. Nurturing as well as kindhearted, Aline also helped get Michael and Matt on the bus for school in the morning. She also never turned down any opportunity to support them when they were home from school due to illness. She would whip up some of her homemade chicken noodle soup and be there for their every need. Although she deeply missed her husband, Claude, for the past eighteen years since he passed away, she remained independent. She preferred to stay home and entertain special guests from time to time. Aline especially looked forward to the visits with her three grandchildren. Described as a wonderful person who was both thoughtful and caring, Aline will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew and loved her. May her warm memories bring a spark of joy to her loved ones and live on eternally in their hearts.

Aline Gould, age 82, of Kalamazoo, MI, died on November 24, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude; and her six siblings. Surviving are her two children; Ted Gould and Kimberly (John) Smallcomee; three grandchildren: T.J., Michael, and Matthew; great-grandchildren: Alyssa and Carter; and many nieces and nephews.

Please join us for a Life Story Service at 11 AM Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A reception will follow in the Life Story Center where food, drinks, and stories can be shared. Visit Aline’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories and or photos and sign her guestbook. Memorial donations to Centrica Care Navigators or Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes.