New Bedford – John E. Turgeon, 80, of New Bedford died Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was the husband of Pauline (Bak) Turgeon; they had celebrated their 57th anniversary last August 17th.
He was born in New Bedford, son of the late Antoine and Azelia (Chase) Turgeon, and was a lifelong resident of the city. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, New Bedford. He served as a Firefighter for the City of New Bedford for 30 years and was a member of the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts.
Mr. Turgeon was a U.S. Marine veteran of WW II. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the Disabled American Veterans Commanders Club. He loved people, music, golfing and boating. He embraced all things in nature, especially spending time at the ocean and doing creative gardening. He will best be remembered for the joy he brought, the kindness he shared and the respect he held everyone in.
In addition to his widow, he is survived by a daughter: Helene Turgeon of New Bedford; a son: Brian J. Turgeon and his wife Susan of Sandwich, MA; 3 sisters: Pauline Benoit of New Bedford, Yvette Falleson of Rochester, NY and Doris Turgeon of Tarpon Springs, FL; 2 grandchildren: Christopher Turgeon and Jordan Turgeon both of Sandwich, MA; many loving nieces & nephews; and other family members and “adopted” family members: Eleanor Gorka of New Bedford and Jeanne Darling of Tyngsboro, MA.
He was brother of the late Antoinette Bertalotto, Emma Turcotte, Evelyn Laquerre, Lucille Turgeon and Helen Turgeon.
Following cremation, a celebratory funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church, New Bedford on Friday, February 20, 2004 at 9:00 A.M.
A private ceremony of interment, with full military honors, will be held at a later date at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.