Memorials
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Andrew W. Bernard, Sr.
1918 -- 2015
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Andrew W. Bernard, Sr., 96, died
Thursday, May 7, 2015 in River Terrace Nursing &
Rehabilitation Center, after an illness. His wife of 55
years, Theresa (Pescarini) died in 1997.
He leaves a son, Andrew W. Bernard, Jr., and his wife,
Elaine, and a daughter, Sylvia Buteau, and her husband,
Richard, of Lancaster; seven grandchildren: Kevin
Bernard, Mark Bernard, Kelli Bernard, Sherry Kersey,
Kristine Anderson, Joyce Buteau-Weigold, and Jennifer
Fitzgerald; 13 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Nine siblings, Emile, Lionel, Clearence, Joseph, J.
Alyre, Louis, Mary, Jane, and Alice, predeceased him.
Andrew was born and raised in Leominster, the son of
Arthur J. Bernard and Azelie (Cormier) Bernard LeFrenier.
He enlisted in the US Army in February of 1939. During
WWII, he served with the Sixth Armored Division in the
European Theater, participating in battle in the
Rhineland, Ardennes, and Normandy, for which he received
the Bronze Star.
After being honorably discharged in 1945, he embarked on
a nearly 35 year career as a civilian Missile Inspector
at Fort Devens, retiring in 1973.
He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, the
American Legion Post #96, and the Catholic Golden Age
Club. In addition, he was a life-member of the Six
Armored Division, and the National Association of
Federal Employees.
Andrew’s funeral will be held on Monday, May 11, 2015
from the McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St.,
Clinton, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Immaculate
Conception Church, 809 Main St., Lancaster. Burial will
follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Lancaster. Relatives and
friends are invited to attend calling hours at the
funeral home on Sunday, May 10, 2015, from 5:00 – 7:00
p.m. For those who wish, the family suggests that
memorial donations be made to Immaculate Conception
Church Building Fund, PO Box 95, Lancaster, MA 01523. |
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Claire L. (Fontaine)
Bergeron
1920 - 2012
Claire L. (Fontaine) Bergeron, 91,
of Leominster, died Monday, November 12, 2012, in Health
Alliance Leominster Hospital. She was born on December
16, 1920, in Leominster, MA, was the daughter of Arthur
and O’Divine (Labossier) Fontaine. She was a high school
graduate and then went on to attend classes at Mount
Wachusett Community College. She worked as a hairdresser
for Renee’s Beauty Salon, Tish and Redman Hair Salon,
and Irene’s Beauty Salon. She was a member of St.
Cecilia’s Parish in Leominster. She is survived by her
three daughters Elaine C. Cormier and her husband Dennis
of Ashburnham, Jeanne T. Kiley of Meriden, C.T., Marilyn
J. Bergeron of Brockton, a brother Albert Fontaine of
Deerfield Beach, F.L., two sisters Florence Reynolds and
her husband Glenn and Theresa Vaillette all of
Leominster, her grandchildren Brian Cormier, Lisa
Magaraci, Jessica Belyea, and Philip Puliafico, and six
great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband
of 65 years Joseph G. Bergeron on February 28, 2007, and
her son Roger Bergeron.
The funeral will be held on
Thursday November 15, 2012 with a funeral mass at 10:00
a.m. in St. Cecilia Church 168 Mechanic Street,
Leominster, Burial will follow in St. Cecilia Cemetery,
Leominster.
A calling hour will be held from
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the
Wright-RoyFuneralHome.com |
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Ernest H. "Bill" Beaudoin 1919
- 2008
Ernest H. 'Bill' Beaudoin owner of former Elk Club
Beverages; 89 FITCHBURG Ernest H. "Bill" Beaudoin, 89,
of Fitchburg, died Monday, August 11, 2008, in
Leominster Hospital. He was born February 19, 1919, in
Leominster, the son of Frederick and Amelia (Cournoyer)
Beaudoin. He excelled as a football player at Leominster
High School and graduated in 1938. He graduated from
Becker Jr. College in 1940, and was a veteran of the
U.S. Aircorps where he was a pilot and navigator. He was
a former head of the Zoning Commission in Leominster.
Mr. Beaudoin owned the former Elk Club Beverages, and
owned Bill's Auto Parts with his wife and son. He was a
member of the Elks, the Eagles, and the Knights of
Columbus. He was a tremendously skilled carpenter,
electrician, and plumber. He enjoyed photography and
built his own dark room. He was a sports enthusiast,
loved to golf, and travel with his wife. He leaves his
wife, Irene (Legere) Beaudoin; three sons, James
Beaudoin, John Beaudoin and Richard Beaudoin of
Leominster; two sisters, Lorraine Padovano and Eleanor
Bartoni, both of Leominster; five grandchildren, Bridget
Schwartz, Sean Beaudoin, Christopher Beaudoin, Jason
Beaudoin and Matthew Beaudoin; and seven
great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers,
Frederick Beaudoin, Jr. and Harold Beaudoin, and a
sister, Rita Serafini.
A funeral service was held Friday, August 15, 2008 in
St. Cecilia's Church and the burial is in St. Cecilia's
Cemetery.
I met Mr. Beaudoin and his family
at Spec Pond, where they also spent their summers. They
were always a friendly, gracious and hospitable family.
I treasure the memories of them, especially a personal
tour of the Elk's Club Bottling plant by Bill with Dick
one afternoon! |
Arlene L.
(LaFrance)
Krummel 1922 - 2011
Arlene L. (LaFrance) Krummel 89 of
Leominster died December 26, 2011 in Leominster Hospital
of heart failure. She was born on June 29, 1922 was the
daughter of Donat and Alice (Maxfield) La France. She
was a graduate of Leominster High School Class of 1938,
and then graduated from Salters Secretarial School in
Worcester. She joined the Womens Army Corp (WACS) from
1942 to 1945 where she earned the Good Conduct Medal and
the World War II Victory Medal, and attained the rank of
Corporal. She was a member of Our Lady of the Lake
Parish in Leominster. She is survived by a sister
Lucille Fontaine of Leominster, two brothers Raymond
LaFrance of Leominster and Robert LaFrance of East
Falmouth, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her
first husband Art Gastrich who died in 1968 and her
second husband William H. Krummel who died in September
1997 |
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Corinne A.
(Girouard) Pierce
1920 - 2011
Corinne A. (Girouard) Pierce, 90, of
Fitchburg, died peacefully at home on Thursday, October
13, 2011.
She was born October 28, 1920 in Leominster, MA, the
daughter of the late Edmund N. and Marie Girouard, and
lived in Leominster until moving to Fitchburg many years
ago.
She leaves her three children, E. Jane Pierce and her
husband, Prince Jones of Clinton, Charles I. Pierce and
his longtime companion, Barbara Dion of Leominster, and
Rosemary and David LeBlanc of Fitchburg; eight
grandchildren, Daniel Jones of Boston, Tasia Jones of
Los Angeles, CA, Carly Jones of Boston, Randall and
Garrett Pierce, both of Fitchburg, Andrew and Gregory
LeBlanc, both of Fitchburg, and Willy Tollman of
Connecticut; five great-grandchildren, Aqua, Jazmyn,
Niyah, London, and Trenton; one great-great-grandson,
Nayvian. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Helen
Belliveau of Leominster; and a large circle of friends
and associates.
Her loving husband of 64 years, Charles I. Pierce whom
she cared for until his death in the home died in 2010,
and three brothers, Wilfred Belliveau, Clifford Girouard,
and Joseph Hector Girouard, also predeceased her.
She attended St. Cecilia's Grammar School and Leominster
High School.
During World War ll, she worked at the former Fort
Devens, and was also a switchboard operator at Burbank
Hospital for 20 years.
In 1946, she married Charles I. Pierce. She was a very
devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She
also enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking, and crafts.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday,
October 18, 2011 in Simard Funeral Home, 14 Walker St.,
Leominster at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in St Bernard's
Cemetery Fitchburg. Calling hours in the funeral home
are Tuesday morning, October 18, 2011 are from 11 a.m. -
1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may
be made to the Friends of the Public Library, 610 Main
St., Fitchburg, MA 01420 and may be left at the funeral
home. For more information or to sign our online
guestbook, please visit
www.simardfuneralhome.com
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Gaston, 88, of
Leominster, died Saturday morning, January 30, 2010, at
U-Mass Memorial University Campus, Worcester after an
illness.
He was born February 18, 1921 in
Leominster, the son of the late Emile Dargis and Graziella (Vigneault)
Dargis and was a lifelong Leominster resident. He attended
St. Cecilia’s Grammar School and is a graduate of Becker
College. He married his wife of 66 years, Lorraine, on May
20, 1943.
He was a veteran of World War II
serving in the U.S. Army. He fought in the Battle of the
Bulge, earning the Bronze Star for bravery. He returned to
Leominster after the war to his wife and daughter and went
on to have two more children. Gaston was general manager of
Delisle’s Department Store on Main Street for 43 years.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine
(Forest) Dargis, two daughters, Sandra Dargis of St. Croix,
Ann Wyatt and her husband John of Alamo, California; one
son, John Dargis and his wife Jean of Bar Harbor, Maine;
five grandchildren, Steven Cheshire, Peter Wyatt, Alex
Wyatt, Chloe Dargis, Booth Dargis. He was predeceased by a
sister, Theresa Skinner and by a brother, Emile Dargis.
Burial was in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. |
Gaston L. Dargis
1921 - 2010
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Otto P. Palazzi
1920 - 2010
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Otto P. Palazzi, 89, of Central Street,
died Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, in the Life Care Center of
Leominster, after an illness.
He was born on Dec. 2, 1920, in Leominster, son of the
late Augusto and Aldina (Saudelli) Palazzi. Mr. Palazzi was
a 1938 graduate of Leominster High School. He was a U.S.
Navy veteran serving in World War II on the aircraft
carrier, Kitkum Bay in the Pacific Theater. He was a
salesman for Atlas Liquor Distributors in Worcester and also
worked for his father at the former Palazzi Oil Company. Mr.
Palazzi was a member of St. Anna Parish, the Sons of Italy,
the Knights of Columbus Council #406, and Colombo Hall. He
enjoyed Leominster sports and was a New York Yankees fan.
He leaves his wife of 71 years, Gloria (Pasquarelli)
Palazzi; one son, Ronald “Togo” Palazzi and his wife,
Lorraine, of Leominster; one daughter, Bette Kartanos of
Leominster; seven grandchildren, Thomas Palazzi, Lynne
Palazzi, Michelle Barry, David Palazzi, Stephanie LeBlanc,
Amy Craven, and James Kartanos; eight great-grandchildren;
and one sister, Mary Ware of Athol. He was predeceased by a
son, Thomas John Palazzi, who passed away in 1945. |
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Dario “Dee” Proietti 88 died at the
Life Care Center of Leominster on March 13, 2008. He was the
son of the late Augusto and Concetta (Piermarini) Proietti.
Mr. Proietti was born in Mathers, Pennsylvania on January
25, 1920, but moved to Leominster with his family at the age
of 6 months. He was a graduate of Leominster High School
Class of 1938. Dario enlisted in the United States Army Air
Force on January 15, 1942 where he served for 42 months, in
North Africa, and Italy where he was wounded and received
the Purple Heart. While in Italy he met and befriended a
Capuchin Monk Padre Pio who later was made a Saint. Saint
Pio made a profound influence on Dario’s life. Dario retired
from Union Products after 38 years as a die maker. He was
also one of the founders of the Leominster Credit serving as
the secretary during their formative years.
He was married to the former Marjorie
(Grossi) Proietti – a high school sweetheart. He leaves two
brothers John Proietti and his wife Dorothy, his brother
Gino Proietti and his sister Clara Ermini, and
brother-in-law Ciro, and his brother-in-law John Grossi all
of Leominster. Also many nieces and nephews he loved dearly.
He was predeceased by two brothers Albert and Europeo, two
sisters Antonia Fiandaca and Rita Gonelli.
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Dario "Dee" Proietti
1920 -
2008
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W.
Kenneth Wiley
1920 - 2008 |
W. Kenneth Wiley, 87, of Hawes Street, died on Sunday, Jan. 20, in
his home surrounded by his family.
He was born in Leominster on Feb. 28, 1920, a son
of the late, Harry A. and Mary F. (Howard) Wiley, and lived in the
Leominster-Fitchburg area all of his life.
After graduation he went to work at the Norton
Company in Worcester, during which time he played semi-professional
football for the Worcester Golden Bears from 1939 to 1941. He then
joined the U.S. Navy, served in World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater and was honorably discharged as a Machinist’s Mate 3rd class.
He then went to work in the family business at the
former Wiley Manufacturing Co. in Gardner, where he worked for many
years before going to work at the General Electric Co. in Fitchburg. He
worked at G.E. for 23 years prior to his retirement in 1986 as a
foreman. He was a member of the St. Camillus de Lellis Church, where he
was very active in its St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was a member of
the Leominster Lodge of Elks and active in the Red Cross as a frequent
blood donor.
His wife, Mary E. (Ambrose) Wiley, died in 1994.
He leaves a son, Kevin P. Wiley of Fitchburg; two daughters, Mary
Frances Rutigliano of Hampstead, N.H., and Ann K. Wiley of Fitchburg;
four granddaughters, Windy Catino of Boston, Carey Doucette of
Winchendon, Sascha Rosebush of West Newton and Sarah Rutigliano of
Hampstead, N.H.; a great-granddaughter, Wiley Doucette of Winchendon;
and several nephews and nieces. His brother, H. Howard Wiley in
2001. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster. |
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Nicholas G. Despo, 87, of 70 Country Lane in Leominster,
died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, in the Sterling Health Care
Center.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marylouise
(Peterson) Despo; sons, Nicolas Despo of Cambridge and Jim Despo and his
wife, Susan Despo, of Leominster; daughter, Nancy Tourigny and her
husband, Paul Tourigny, of Leominster; grandchildren, Jesse Despo of
Swampscott, Colby Mazzaferro of Leominster and Michael Despo of Boston;
great granddaughter, Ava Rae Mazzaferro of Leominster; brother,
Alexander Despo of Leominster and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, John Despo, and
his five sisters, Mary Despo, Angie Seuss, Catherine Whitney, Evelyn
Whittington and Tacia Despo.
Mr. Despo was born in Leominster on Oct. 27, 1920,
son of George and Helen (Mauraides) Despotopulous, he was the youngest
of eight children. He attended both Becker Junior College and
Northeastern University.
He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Force during
World War II. Nick had worked at Doehla Greeting Card Co. in Nashua, N.H.,
for over 20 years as an industrial engineer. He then was vice president
of Merrivale Corp. in Nashua, N.H., vice president of General Gummed
Tape Corp. in Linden, N.J. and a salesman representing Boutwell Owens,
retiring in 1995. Burial with military honors was in Evergreen Cemetery. |
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Nicholas
G. Despo
1920 - 2007 |
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Raymond V. Descoteaux
1920 -
2010 |
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Raymond, 90, died
Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at the Highlands after an
illness. He was the husband of the late Mary (Membrino)
Descoteaux who passed away in 1970. They were married in
1949.
Raymond leaves two sons David Descoteaux, Stephen Descoteaux,
three grandsons, Mark Descoteaux, Michael Descoteaux and
James Descoteaux, one brother Roland Descoteaux, one sister
Lucille Wilkie, and several nieces and nephews. He is also
predeceased by a sister Anita Emma.
Raymond was born in Fitchburg on March 1, 1920 a son of the
late Oscar and Celina (Bruneau) Descoteaux, and grew up in
Leominster.
Mr. Descoteaux
was a veteran of World War II. He served in the European
Theater with the 3rd Armored Division landing on the shores
of France shortly after D-Day. He participated in the
Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central
Europe Campaigns and was awarded a Silver Battle Star.
Raymond was an
Office Manager for the former Tilton and Cook Company in
Leominster. After retirement he worked briefly for the
Leominster Housing Authority.
He was a parishioner of Saint Anthony di Padua Church, a
member of the National Association of Accountants, and a
longtime member of the Sainte Jean de Baptiste social club.
Burial was in the St. Bernard's Cemetery. |
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