Raymond J. Duplessis, 81, of Woonsocket, went home to the Lord on Friday, May 27, 2016, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Muriel (Girard), his beloved wife of 60 years. Ray was the son of the late Wilfred and Antoinette (Gosselin) Duplessis.
Ray was survived by his five daughters, Denise Duplessis, Celeste Haggerty, Michelle O’Connor, Jean Pomfret, and Christine Duplessis; six grandchildren, Jennifer O’Connell, David Haggerty, Jonathan Pomfret, Nathan Pomfret, Daniel Pomfret, and Jeremy Pomfret, and his adorable great-grandchildren, Abby and Charlie. He also leaves behind two sisters, Claire Lemay and Jeannine Therien, a sister-in-law, Simone Plante, many nieces and nephews and close friends, and his beloved handyman and son-in-law Glen.
Raymond was a 1951 graduate of Woonsocket High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bryant College. He began his career as a machinist apprentice for Taft-Peirce Manufacturing Company and was employed by Cumberland Engineering for 35 years, working his way from toolmaker to senior manufacturing engineer. He retired in 2001. Raymond served in the United States Navy as a third class machinist mate during the Korean Conflict on the USS Compton.
Raymond was an avid camper, reader, tennis player, square dancer, cribbage player, and “Pepere” extraordinaire. He volunteered at Meals on Wheels and Woonsocket Senior Citizens Center daily for 15 years and in 2005 was named Woonsocket Senior Citizen of the Year. He was a longtime parishioner and volunteer at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs parish. He was a Eucharistic Minister both there and at Rehab Hospital of Rhode Island. Ray will be remembered for his quick smile, corny jokes, and the love and kindness he showed everyone he met.
His funeral will be Friday at 8:45 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave., Woonsocket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Park Ave., Woonsocket. Burial will be held privately. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Senior Services, Inc., 84 Social St., Woonsocket, RI. 02895. (www.seniorservicesri.org).
www.menardfuneralhome.com