Albert A. Gregoire, 91, of Grand St., Woonsocket, died Thursday at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He was the loving husband of Arcelia “Celia” M. (Pincince) Gregoire. They were married on September 8, 1945.
Born in Woonsocket, he was a son of the late Ovila and Anastasie (Lanois) Gregoire. He remained a lifelong resident of the city.
Mr. Gregoire was a graduate of Mt. St. Charles Academy, Class of 1940.
During WWII Mr. Gregoire served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the European Theatre. An armament specialist, he earned several citations for his participation in the air offensive over Europe, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Balkans. He was awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal and European- African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon.
Following his service Mr. Gregoire was employed at the Whitins Machine Works as a maintenance machinist for 21 years. He later worked at Hasbro Corp. as an experimental machinist model maker for 18 years prior to his retirement.
A longtime communicant of Precious Blood Parish. He was a member of the Woonsocket VFW Post 11519, the St. Joseph Sr. Citizens, Golden Hearts at All Saints, and the Royal Travelers.
Albert enjoyed tending to his flower and vegetable gardens and giving of his time to anyone who was in need of his knack for fixing just about anything.
Albert will be remembered as being a devoted husband and father and for his kind and gentlemanly manner.
In addition to his wife of 66 years, he is survived by his sister Blanche Kenworthy of FL, and many nieces and nephews and their families. He was the father of the later Sr. Paulette Marie Gregoire, RJM who died in 1999 and brother of the late Loretta Charpentier and Lorraine Boucher.
His funeral will be Wednesday at 9:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave., Woonsocket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in Precious Blood Church, Carrington Ave., Woonsocket. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery, Bellingham. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 5-8 pm. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to Precious Blood Parish, 94 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket, RI. 02895.
www.menardfuneralhome.com