HAMLIN – Donald A. Labbe, 81, died unexpectedly Feb. 24, 2011, at a veterans hospital in West Roxbury, Mass. He was born Sept. 23, 1929, in Van Buren, the son of Albenie and Yvonne (Thibodeau) Labbe.
Don started working at age 13 and was a foreman with Bangor and Aroostook Railroad at 16 years old. His passion in life was working, and oftentimes as a jack-of-all-trades, he created work. He was self-employed for many years as a barber, but his favorite vocation was woodworking and carpentry. He worked for Blier Cedar Co., Van Buren, and as a millwright at Fraser Paper, Madawaska, for several years. He was also employed as a carpenter in civil service at Loring Air Force Base for many years, repairing and renovating base housing and other buildings. Don also built several homes in the Van Buren area, including his own home on Smith Street, Van Buren. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and was a 53-year member of American Legion, Levasseur-Farrell Post No. 49, Van Buren.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Simone (Fournier) Labbe of Hamlin; two sons, Kurt Labbe and Troy Labbe, both of Van Buren; one daughter, Vickie Labbe and husband, Michael Doyle, of Portland; two brothers, Gerald Labbe and Richard Labbe, both of Bristol, Conn.; and five sisters, Georgette Jordan of Portsmouth, N.H., Lorraine Plourde of Watertown, Conn., Corinne Lackey of Belgrade, Mont., Theresa Blackburn of Livingston, Texas, and Joan Parker of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Harold and Patrick Labbe of Van Buren.
Relatives and friends may call 6-8 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday at Ouellette-Thibault Funeral Home, 118 High St., Van Buren. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Bruno-St. Remi Catholic Church. Spring interment will be at Grande Riviere Cemetery. To leave online condolences, please visit
www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.