MILFORD—Henry F. “Hank” Freniere Sr. 90, a resident of the Whitcomb House since 2006, and a former longtime Franklin resident, died peacefully at home Monday December 14, 2009. He was the beloved husband of the late Mary C. (Ward) Freniere. He will be lovingly remembered as the devoted husband and care giver to his wife as she progressed through the stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Born in North Cambridge, July 9, 1919 a son of the late Louis N. Freniere Jr. and Eva (LeBlanc) Freniere, he was raised and educated in parochial schools and was a graduate of Cambridge High & Latin. In 1937, he was accepted at Harvard University and graduated there in 1941.
On December 7, 1941, after the Pearl Harbor attack, Mr. Freniere decided to join the military service. He enlisted in the Army Air Force on January 5, 1942. Following basic training, he was assigned to anti aircraft artillery Officer’s Candidate School. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, and after several months of additional training, he was assigned to classified duty and sent to North Africa. He saw service in Morocco, Algeria, and Sicily. He spent the rest of his tour in Southern France, in command of a refugee center where he coordinated the repatriation of forced laborers and political refuges. He returned home after the war with the rank of Capitan, and many decorations from France and Italy. He also received the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the World War 11 Victory Medal. He spent 30 years in the Army Reserve and attained the rank of Colonel. His last billet was as commanding officer of a Boston based civil affairs unit, where he was decorated with the Legion of Merit. He was a proud member of the Order of Lafayette.
When he returned home, he found his college sweetheart Mary C. Ward, they were married in Houlton, Maine in May 1946, and there love affair continued until her death in November 2005.
His post war employment began as assistant director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. He began his life insurance career a few years later with Mutual of New York, where he enjoyed success largely due to the support of the people of Franklin. He earned the professional designation CLU, Charted Life Underwriter and specialized in estate planning financial planning, and retirement planning. He was elected to the company’s Hall of Fame.
For most of his adult life, he was active with Rotary International. He was a past president and life member of the Franklin Rotary Club, and served as District Governor for the Central Massachusetts region. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, and was recognized by his club members as Citizen of the Year in 1986.
He served as a trustee for the Milford Regional Medical Center, ultimately as chairman. He enthusiastically participated in a project to expand a medical presence in Franklin, which succeeded in the form of the Pastorello Medical Center.
He had a lifetime interest in the Franklin Public Library. He was appointed chairman of the Library Advisory Board to expedite the transfer of the library from autonomous status to municipal administration and ownership. He became chairman of the Library Building Committee, which undertook a complete renovation and expansion of the library doubling its capacity. Some time later he was appointed chairman of the newly constituted Board of Directors.
Mr. Freniere had many additional interests; he was a 50 year member of St. Mary’s Church in Franklin, where he served as a lector for many years. In 2002, when the parish celebrated its 175th anniversary, a filmed documentary was produced. He served on that committee, and was the narrator of the production. He was also a life member of Sacred Heart Council Knights of Columbus in Franklin, and a member of the Edward Douglass White 4th Degree. He was recently inducted into the 90’s Brigade, which is a Franklin group of veterans aged 90 and older. He loved Harvard football, and had season tickets for more than 50 years. He enjoyed entertaining fellow residents at the Whitcomb House where he received exceptional care and support from the entire staff. When they were able, he and his wife enjoyed extensive European travel, often associated with his service on a NATO commission (CIOR). During that time, he was inducted as a commander into the NATO Grand Priory of the Sovereign Order of the Temple of Jerusalem.
He is survived by two sons J. Paul Freniere Sr. and his wife Janice of Milford, H.Francis Freniere Jr. and his wife Dona of Palos Park, Ill., two daughters Claire F. Klein and her husband Robert of Lloyd Harbor, New York, and Margaret F. D’Aniello and her husband Stephen of Franklin, eight grandchildren, and a son in law Jack Musgrove of Great Barrington.
He was the father of the late Susan M. Freniere, and the brother of the late E. Richard Freniere, Lucille Ciccone, Claire L. Freniere, and Robert Freniere .
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral with military honors Saturday December 19th, at 10:45AM from the Charles F. Oteri & Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. Franklin, (www.franklinfuneral.com), with a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church 1 Church Sq, Franklin at 11:30AM.
Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Calling hours are Friday from 2-4 & 6-8PM.
If desired in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Franklin Public Library Association Main St. Franklin, MA 02038