| Notes |
- Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 22 Jun 2009
Robert T. Bessette (Picture included)
Robert "Bob" T. Bessette, of Gilbertville died on Saturday June 20th surrounded by his loving family. Bob, son of the late Francois and Ida (Mercure) Bessette, was born in Ware on May 24, 1921. He grew up in Thorndike, graduated from St. Anne's School in Three Rivers and Palmer High School. He attended Worcester Jr. College and Umass-Amherst. He was Technical Sergeant in the Army Air Corps, serving as a radio operator-gunner on a B-29 in WWII, participating in the invasion of Normandy. After the war, he moved to Gilbertville and resided with the late George and Albertina (Peltier) Bessette and their children. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Jeanette (Lavigne) Bessette, his children: Janet Bessette with whom he lived, Robert F. Bessette and his wife Suzanne (Hawkins) of Belmont NH, and Mary R. (Bessette) Vigliano and a granddaughter Sophie Irene Vigliano of Danbury CT. He also leaves his close cousins Phyllis Hanson and her husband Eugene "Wes", and Doris Bessette all of Gilbertville, and Ernest Bessette and his wife Helen of Ware. He also leaves his sisters in-law Claire Irwin and Shirley Podkowka both of Ware. He was predeceased by his half-sister Nora (Mercure) Merchant of RI and his brother-in-law Raymond Lavigne of Ware. Bob worked at the Former Ludlow Specialty Papers of Ware, at a variety of positions including supervisor from 1945 until retiring in 1983. He also served as an assessor for the Town of Hardwick from 1983 to 1997. He was a communicant of St. Aloysius Church, where he was a lector and had served as president of the Holy Name Society. Bob was an officer for the Hardwick Police Dept., for many years beginning in the 1950's. He had a long career of volunteerism and community service. He was an assistant Cub Master for the Boy Scouts, was a member of the local Civil Defense Agency, a trustee of the Gilbertville Public Library, a member of the VFW Post, and of the Sons of the Legion. He served American Legion Post 246 in every position including, Commander, Treasurer and Chaplain. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11am in St. Aloysius Church in Gilbertville with burial in the parish cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday morning from 9 to 10:30 at the Charbonneau Funeral Home in Ware. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bob's memory to the Hardwick Rescue Squad, PO Box 447, Gilbertville Ma. 01031.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1921 - 2009 (88 years)