FRENCHVILLE – Leo James Pelletier, “Jim,” 63, died peacefully Sept. 20, 2010, surrounded by his loving family at a Boston hospital. Jim was born May 16, 1947, at Eagle Lake, son of the late Edwin and Etienette (Rioux) Pelletier. He graduated from Madawaska High School. A man who loved his work, he helped his father and brothers build a large and successful farm. He was never any happier then when he was sitting in a tractor, plowing the fields or working with the grain. Harvest time, he would love to see the fruit of his hard labor. He would talk to anyone who would listen about his farm. He especially loved “his” Island, Pelletier Island, and was proud to share stories about the history of the island. During the last few days of his life, many doctors and nurses heard stories of his adventures in farming and of the island. He talked with pride. After retirement, Jim loved to spend hours sitting on his front porch on a swing that he had made, waving to the people as they drove by. He would spend hours sitting at Paul’s Gas with his friends, having coffee and catching up on the daily news. Jim enjoyed talking about and working on antique tractors with his son, James. During the winter months, Jim enjoyed working in his wood shed, making swings and birdhouses with his wife and grandchildren. In 1999, the Pelletier family won Farm Family of the Year, an achievement he was proud of. Jim was a Frenchville firefighter for many years, and served on the board of directors for many organizations, including Maine Potato Growers, Soil Conservation, Northern Maine Medical Center and LaVilla. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Barbara (Levesque) Pelletier; his daughter, Debbra Babin and her husband, John, of Frenchville; his two sons, James and his companion, Robin Haynes, of Frenchville, and Jessie of Bangor; and two grandchildren who he loved and enjoyed tremendously, Sadie and Jonah Babin. He was eagerly awaiting the birth of a new grandson, Julian, in December, whom he was looking forward to spoil. He is also survived by his sister, Lee Ann Bouchard and her husband, Bob O’Connor, of Newington, Conn.; his brother, Reno and his wife, Juliette, of St. Agatha; his brother, Roger and his wife, Rena, of St. David; his brother, Philip and his wife, Sherene, of Frenchville; his sister, Betty Roy and her husband, Claude, of Ocala, Fla.; his sister, Louise Pelletier and her friend, Donna Doutney, of Windsor, Conn.; and his brother, Danny of Frenchville. In addition to many aunts and uncles, he is survived by several nieces and nephews; and his mother-in-law, Sadie Levesque of Frenchville. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at Our Lady of the Valley, Frenchville. Family and friends may visit 6-8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. until time of service Saturday at Michaud Funeral Home, Frenchville. Interment will be held at the parish cemetery. Contributions in his memory may be made to American Heart Association.
LEO JAMES ‘JIM’ PELLETIER
