Help Support the Drouillard Family in Jay’s Final Days

With heavy hearts, our family is asking for support for Jay Franklin Drouillard, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, who has recently entered Hospice of Toledo the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. His decline has been sudden and heartbreaking, and we are now preparing for the end-of-life stages we never imagined would come so quickly.

A Life Full of Love, Faith, and Service

Jay was born at home in Oregon, Ohio on February 13, 1948, during an ice storm so severe that when the arrived doctor had arrived, he fell and slid down the hill several times before finally arriving at the door. Born on Friday the 13th, Jay came into this world with stories to tell, and he carried that spirit with him his entire life.

Jay and I, his wife Mary Marlene, have been together for 60 years, married for almost 51 years (our anniversary will be January 20, 2026). We built a beautiful life with two children, three grandchildren, and a huge extended family of over 100 nieces and nephews who mean the world to us.

A Life of Hard Work and Humble Service

At just 16–17 years old, Jay served as a Marine Merchant—a role that too many forget is essential to our military. Without the Merchant Marines, ammunition and supplies would never reach where they were needed. Jay took great pride in that service.

He later worked 17 years at Dunn Chevrolet as a skilled mechanic.

His abilities and strong work ethic eventually caught the attention of Mr. Hershey himself, who offered Jay an incredible opportunity: a private jet, a top-level role where Jay would review and work with blueprints, and he even offered to hire me, Mary, as his secretary.

But instead of accepting, Jay chose humility and compassion. He knew another man desperately needed that job to support his family, and Jay refused to take it away from him. That was who he was—always giving, always putting others first.

Jay then helped Mr. Hershey build his chicken coops until a hand injury forced us to return to Ohio. No matter where life took him, Jay lived by the belief: “If you do for others when you can, your blessings will come later.”

We have been proud members of the Placers Card Club in Point Place, Ohio for 49 years, and throughout our lives, we have always given back—Toy Drives, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hospice fundraisers, food drives, and more. Helping others has always been our purpose.

A Family Man Through and Through

Jay loved going out to eat, being surrounded by family, and spending time with our nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends. Family and faith have been our foundation, and every moment with him has been a blessing.

Why We Need Help

Since entering hospice, Jay has rapidly declined. He is now sleeping constantly, suffering from sleep apnea, and we know in our hearts that we are down to a matter of days.

We have already begun paying funeral and medical expenses, but due to Jay’s declining health and my own heart condition, neither of us has been able to work for the past two years. We have been living paycheck to paycheck, and we did not expect the costs to come so quickly or so heavily.

We are currently $20,000 short, which includes:

Funeral and burial plot

End-of-life arrangements

Medical bills already incurred and still to come

With the holidays approaching, we understand how difficult this time of year is for everyone. We are not asking for more than anyone can give—any amount, no matter how small, is a blessing to us during this heartbreaking time.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, for sharing, for praying, and for helping us give Jay the peaceful, dignified farewell he deserves.

God Bless each of you.

— Mary Marlene Drouillard & Family