Shrewsbury – Leo Duchesneau, 82, a longtime resident of Shrewsbury and a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, died peacefully Wednesday Aug. 3, 2011, in his home, after a period of failing health.
Born and raised in Lewiston, Maine, he was the son of the late Emile and Lucia (Bissonnette) Duchesneau. On July 4, 1955, he married his beloved wife, Melina (Maillet) Duchesneau. Following his marriage to Melina, he moved to Shrewsbury where he had resided ever since. He worked for many years as a machinist for Custom Coating.
Mr. Duchesneau's faith was of utmost importance to him. For decades, he remained an active, supportive communicant of St. Anne's Church in Shrewsbury. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, and went to daily mass. He was a member of the Retired Men's Club and was a volunteer for St. Anne's Medical Clinic since its opening.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Melina (Maillet) Duchesneau; three sons, Michael and his wife Glenda of Peabody, Roger and his wife Eileen of Stow, and Philip and his wife Terry of Raritan, N.J.; three daughters, Rosemarie Laird and her husband James of Rochdale, Dianne Millette and her husband Robert of Shrewsbury, and Elaine Gardner and her husband Jack of Worcester; one brother, Joseph Duchesneau of Brunswick, Maine; a sister, Lorraine Ouellette of Bishopville, Md.; 10 grandchildren, Carla, Stefanie, Lisa, Rebecca, Alexa, Tim, Jeff, PJ, Aislinn and Grace; two great-grandchildren, Stella and Cece; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Charles, Adrien and Maurice Duchesneau, and four sisters, Carmen Theodore, Lillian Begin, Regina Turner and Gertrude Pierce.
Family and friends will honor and remember Mr. Duchesneau's life by gathering for calling hours Friday Aug. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester, and again at 10 a.m. Saturday Aug. 6 before leaving in procession to St. Anne's Church, 130 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery of Shrewsbury.
Those who wish to remember Mr. Duchesneau by way of a memorial tribute are kindly asked to consider St. Anne's Free Medical Clinic, 130 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
To share your thoughts and memories, please visit his personal guestbook at www.mercadantefuneral.com.
