GRATIEN JOSEPH PELLETIER

PASSADUMKEAG – Gratien Joseph Pelletier, 86, husband of the late Marguerite (Cote) Pelletier, passed away July 10, 2004, at a Lincoln nursing home. He was born Jan. 31, 1918, in St. Paul-de-la-Croix, Quebec, Canada, the son of Jean-Baptiste and Elise (Thibeault) Pelletier. Mr. Pelletier lived in Quebec for many years, where he was a postmaster and a rural mail carrier. He led the church choir and was a church usher. He owned and operated the school bus, was county tax collector for the parish and school administration secretary. He then moved to Lawrence, Mass., where he continued to be active in the church and was a positive influence throughout. In the last few years of his life, he lived with his daughter, Huguette and son-in-law, Gaston L’Italien in Passadumkeag, until losing his life to cancer. He is survived by three sons, Philibert Pelletier and his wife, Alicia, of Barrie, Ontario, Tobie Pelletier and his wife, Estelle, of Degelis, P.Q., and Viateur Pelletier of Montreal; four daughters, Agathe Caron and her husband, Benoit, of Degelis, P.Q., Jeanne-Mance Drapeau and her husband, Rock, of Neufchatel, P.Q., Huguette L’Italien and her husband, Gaston, of Passadumkeag, and Pierrette Gracia and her husband, Astacio, of Lawrence, Mass.; two sisters, Simone Charron of St. Hubert, P.Q., and Monique Dion and her husband, Emile, of Quebec City; a daughter-in-law, Gaetane Pelletier of Lawrence, Mass.; 16 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite (Cote) Pelletier; two sons, Onil Pelletier and Jean Guy Pelletier; three sisters, Annette, Gabrielle and Marie Anna; six brothers, Elie, Rosaire, Oscar, Benoit, Tobie and Hermel. Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday, July 12, 2004, at the Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Howland, with the Rev. Andre Houle presiding. A graveside service will be in St. Mary-Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence, Mass., on Wednesday, July 14, 2004. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to CHCS Home Care and Hospice. Donations may be sent to the funeral home. For an online register book please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.