...Retired Tewksbury Firefighter, 89
TEWKSBURY - Roger F. Lafreniere, Sr., age 89, died Tuesday morning, November 29, at the Tewksbury Hospital, following a long period of declining health. He was surrounded by his large and loving family. He was the beloved husband of Agnes E. (James) Lafreniere with whom he celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on September 8th.
Roger was born in Cambridge, January 18, 1922, a son of the late Arthur and Adeline (Daoust) Lafreniere. He was raised in the Wamesit section of Tewksbury. He was a WWII U.S. Naval Veteran serving on the U.S.S. Windsor in the Asiatic Pacific war theater. He was awarded several commendations and medals for his gallantry as an Amphibious Assault Landing Craft operator, who completed nine successful combat beach-head landings. He became a call firefighter for the Town of Tewksbury in 1948, and was appointed a permanent Tewksbury Firefighter on May 23, 1966. He retired on February 4, 1984. He also worked as a developer and built many homes in Tewksbury. He was very active in Tewksbury serving on the Planning Board, the original Junior High School Building Committee, and the original Police Station Building Committee. He was a charter member of the T.V.A., a charter member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington B.P.O.Elks Lodge 2070, Tewksbury Lions Club, and his favorite, the Longmeadow Golf Club.
He is survived by eight children, Roger F. Lafreniere, Jr. and his partner Jennine Mahoney of Tewksbury, Joanne M. Capers and her husband Robert of Tewksbury, David A. Lafreniere and his wife Joanne (Lambert) of Tewksbury, Jeannie C. Argenbright and her husband Ronald of Saco, ME, Diane LeBoeuf of Tewksbury, Robert W. Lafreniere of Tewksbury, Carol A. Lambert and her husband Ronald of Tewksbury, Cynthia A. Worthley and her husband Scott of Tewksbury; twenty one grandchildren, Chrissy Orlando, Leanne Kohler, Michael Lafreniere, Eric LaCroix, Jayson Dinsmore, Dan LeBoeuf, Jesse LaCroix, Nicole LeBoeuf, April Liles, Bobby Capers Jr., Adam Lafreniere, Amie LeBoeuf, Janelle Lafreniere, Tim Lambert, Jacqui LeBoeuf, Kasey Lafreniere, Heidi Argenbright, Alex Worthley, Ben Worthley, Christopher Worthley, and Dillon Worthley; seven great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Audrey, Rhett, Ava, Savannah, Jaxon, and Owen; a sister-in-law, Florence Lafreniere of FL; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the great-grandfather of the late Robin Kohler, and brother of the late Gilbert Lafreniere, Roland Lafreniere, Claire Protani, and Ann Spinney.
His Funeral was Friday, Dec. 2 in St. William Church, 1351 Main St., Tewksbury. Burial was at Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472 or visit www.alz.org are appreciated.