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- The Burlington Free Press, 3 Feb 2009
Carl W. Bessette Sr. (include picture)
CARL W. BESSETTE SR. COLCHESTER/AVON PARK, Fla. - Carl W. Bessette Sr., 88, of Colchester, died on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, in Heartland Medical Center, Sebring, Fla., following a long illness. He was born in Colchester on Sept. 27, 1920, the son of William and Lottie (Flood) Bessette. Carl enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 23, 1940, and immediately entered into active duty. He underwent basic training at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester and then took advance training at Fort Devins, Mass. His first foreign duty was served in England and Scotland. He served as a private First Class in the 1st infantry division of General Omar Bradley's 1st Army during World War II and saw action in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Theatres. From England, his unit was sent to Africa and attached to General George Patton's army. In 1943, he was part of Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily which was launched on July 10, 1943. Following the Italian campaign, Carl was sent back to England where preparations were underway for the Allied invasion of Europe. On June 6, 1944 (DDAY) Carl was on the beach at Normandy, France as a part of the American, British and Canadian landing force. The Army, including Carl, pushed through France, Belgium, through Germany and on into Czechoslovakia. Following the war's end, he was discharged at Fort Devins, Mass., on July 19, 1945, and returned home to Burlington. Following his grandfather's footsteps, 1st Lt. Justin Izzo is serving in the Army as an Apachi Helicopter pilot stationed in Basra, Iraq. On Oct. 20, 1945, Carl married Norma Shortsleeve. She predeceased him on June 10, 2001. He later married Lillian Pratt-Wilber on June 15, 2002. Carl had been employed with the City of Burlington for over 30 years, retiring in 1979. He was a life member of the VFW Howard Plant Post 782. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing year round. He also enjoyed boxing and his New York Giants. Carl is survived by his wife Lillian of Colchester; six children, Sandra Barnes and her husband David, Elaine Durand, Debra Izzo and her husband Anthony, Laurie Lewis and her husband Timothy, Carl "Bill" Bessette Jr. and Brian Bessette; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Thelma LaRocque; and nieces and nephews. He is also survived by four stepchildren, David Pratt and his wife Claudia, Darin Pratt, Derek Pratt and his wife Kathy, and Diane Lapointe and her husband Marc; six stepgrandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren; and three sisters-in-law, Mary Gardner, Jan and Harold Racine and Jeannette and Dale Bishop. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m., in the Ready Funeral Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, with interment to follow in Lake View Cemetery, Burlington. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., with a VFW service at 5 p.m., in the Ready Funeral and Cremation Service, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington. To send online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1920 - 2009 (88 years)