Joseph Emile Drolet, 88, of Rocky Hill Road, North Scituate, died Saturday, May 10, 2014 at St. Antoine Residence peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was the devoted husband of Lillian (Houle) Drolet. They were married for 63 years.
Born in Waterbury, CT, he was a son of the late Henry and Aurora (Richards) Drolet. Following his retirement, he lived in Northport, FLA for fifteen years until moving to No. Scituate ten years ago.
He was one of twelve siblings, the consummate daredevil, a high diver, pilot and motorcyclist. He had nine lives and truly lived them all. He was a graceful dancer, a lover of music and the life of the party.
He served his country proudly as a Marine, in the Pacific Theatre, during WWII. He retired in 1988 after working as a Foreman at Timex.
An avid skier, he was past president of the Nava Ski Club and worked as a ski patrolman and ski instructor for many years at Mohawk Mountain in Connecticut. Because of his enthusiasm for the sport, and his love of teaching, he spawned many new skiers in his extended family.
His zest for life and the outdoors drew him and his circle of close friends to sail together for many seasons in Long Island Sound, around the Cape and Islands and in the Caribbean. An unfailing optimist, his gift to us all is his “never say never” attitude and love for life. He will be truly missed but we will all carry his spirit in our hearts.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his three daughters; Michelle Drolet of Morristown, NJ, Lisa Shaffer and her husband, Robert of North Scituate, Renee DiCenso and her husband, Anthony, of Greenville, his four grandsons, Hunter Shaffer, Michael, Matthew and Mitchell Dicenso and his siblings: Beatrice Perigard, Blanche Lipps, Henriette Evangelista, Janet Desjardins, Helen Bouffard and Roger Drolet. He was the father of the late Wayne Drolet and brother of the late Yvonne Lemadeline, Lorraine Beland, Rene Drolet, Claire Moreau and Ester Cirois.
His funeral will be held Thursday beginning with a visitation at 10am at the ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI. Burial, with Military honors, will follow in Acote’s Hill Cemetery.
Visitation Wednesday 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers donations to Home and Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904.