Romeo Joseph Pellerin, 83, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, October 13, 2012. He was born on October 30, 1928, in Lawrence, MA, son of Joseph and Alma Pellerin. He was formerly of Salem, NH, and Lawrence, MA, moving to Derry, NH 12 years ago.
Romeo was predeceased by his beloved wife of 39 years, Marie Claire Pellerin, with whom he loved traveling and spending time with their large family. He reminisced about her often, always saying what a wonderful and beautiful woman she was. He enjoyed wood-working, and made keepsakes for his sons, daughters, and each of his grandchildren. He was a devoted Catholic, and was generous, humorous, hard-working, loving, and always ready to share stories from his past. His smile was infectious, and everyone who met him, loved him.
Romeo worked and owned a dairy farm in Salem, NH, for 25 years. He was self-taught in electronics (TV and radio), and often made house call repairs in the evenings. After selling the farm, he worked at Honeywell in Lawrence for 20 plus years, walking to and from work every day. He retired from Honeywell and was fortunate to spend some quality years with his wife.
His family remembers him making taffy, candy apples, pork pies, caramel popcorn balls, and maple syrup. He had a sunny disposition, often cracked jokes, and could frequently be heard whistling a tune or singing a song. He welcomed new members of the family with open, loving arms.
Romeo is survived by three sons, Andrew Pellerin and his wife Sharon of Merrimac, MA, Raymond Pellerin and his wife Ellen of Hampstead, NH, and Peter Pellerin and his wife Tina of Methuen, MA; and five daughters, Yvonne Amato and her husband Joseph of Tewksbury, MA, Diane Mulkern and her husband Terrence of Peaks Island, ME, Monica Fairburn and her husband George of Derry, NH, Elizabeth Regan and her husband Kevin of Derry, NH, and Barbara Thomas and her husband Brian of Manchester, NH. He was the proud grandfather of 23, and had six great grandchildren. Romeo is survived by one sister, Cecile Townsend, of Methuen, MA, and was predeceased by seven siblings.
Romeo was blessed to have found a second love, his extraordinary and devoted friend of 20 years, Phyllis Coletta, of Methuen, MA. They enjoyed going to movies, dinners, senior trips, and making rosary beads. They were at one time choir members at Mt. Carmel Church in Methuen. He fondly referred to her as his special redhead.
Romeo’s life will be celebrated and loving remembered in a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Monica’s Church, 212 Lawrence St., Methuen on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 9 AM. Entombment will follow in St. Mary - Immaculate Conception Mausoleum, Lawrence. Family and friends will be warmly received in the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St., Methuen from 4-8 PM on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01709 or the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern MA Inc, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. For directions or to share a condolence with the Pellerin family, please visit us online at www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, Methuen is honored to assist the Pellerin family with arrangements.