Harold F. Byrnes age 83, died peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2008.  He enjoyed 50 years of marriage to the late Helen O'Neil Byrnes. Born in Bridgeport, Harold was drafted while attending Bassick High School to serve in the Navy during WWII, working as a signal man in a wooden mine sweeper.   Afterwards, he proudly worked for 40 years as a Bridgeport Firefighter as a pumper engineer, who could get water out of a rock. When he came to the fire house you could be sure that he brought enough food to feed the entire shift. He was active in B.A.R.F, and a member of "Leave em Laughin", where he would go each month to watch old movies, sharing laughter and memories with his friends. His love of traveling led him to Ireland, Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska to name a few. Harold, better known as Harry to his friends and GB to his grandchildren, loved life. He was a proud Irishman who never had a bad word to say about anyone. He is survived by his devoted children, Maureen and Ron Maldonado of Midlothian, VA and their children Mike and Marisa, Kevin and Suzanne Byrnes of West Haven and their children Shane and Carly, Harold (Chip) Byrnes of Bridgeport, Sheila and Bob Craw of Monroe and their children Meghan and Erin, John and Karen Byrnes of Wolcott and their children Kristen, Katie, and Jack, and his loving sister-in-law, Sister Mary Agnes O'Neil of the Daughters of Charity (former President/CEO St. Vincent's M.C) of Holbrook, MA. Funeral services will be held Monday December 29, 2008 at 10:00am directly in Our Lady of Grace Church, 497 Second Hill Lane, Stratford with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown. Friends are invited to greet the family Sunday, December 28, 2008, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm in the Redgate - Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the "Children's Burn Camp", 601 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com