L. Raymond Labrecque, 75, of Salem, died Sunday, Nov. 1,
2009, with his family by his side at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in
Danvers. He was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in August of this year
and fought a brief but courageous battle.
He was the husband of Mona (Gagnon) Labrecque.
Born in Salem in 1934, to Leopold "Paul" and Eva (Paquette)
Labrecque, Ray spent his childhood years in the family's Ropes St. home, and
attended St. Joseph's parish school. Many
of his formative years were spent with his friends on and around Salem harbor,
fishing, swimming, and exploring. He
attended St. Mary's High School in Lynn, MA, and Wentworth Institute of
Technology, in Boston. He married Mona
E. Gagnon on August 23, 1958, and they enjoyed a loving, devoted marriage of
close companionship and partnership for 51 years. Ray was employed by I.B.M. for over 30 years,
and Eastman Kodak for 10. He was a truly
skilled "handyman" and an avid boater and outdoorsman. Ray hunted and fished with his family and friends,
enjoyed golfing, and all things in nature. His entry "Olde Salem Greens" was chosen by
the city for the current name of Salem's municipal golf course. His family and the time he spent with them
was one of his biggest joys in life and his richest gifts he gave. Ray and his family traveled with a travel
trailer throughout the US and Canada for many years, taking trips of up to 8
weeks at a time to explore the country. He
was appointed as Conservation Commissioner of Salem in the 1970's, by then Mayor
Samuel Zoll, and served in that capacity for 4 years. Ray was also a member of The Knights of
Columbus, Veragua Council No.76. A devoted parishioner of St. Thomas the
Apostle Church, Ray had called Oakland St. home for the past 45 years. Much of his summer months were spent in Dennis
on Cape Cod where many of his closest friends made and shared countless
memories he cherished.
He is survived by his wife Mona, and their three children,
Gregg and wife Mary, of Georgetown, MA, Eric of Renton, WA, and Leanne
Labrecque-Brown and Sam Brown of Duluth, GA. He had six grandchildren; Valerie and Max
Labrecque of Georgetown, and Seth, Aaron, Carson, and Trinity Brown of GA. Ray also leaves his beloved brothers and
sisters, Robert of Peabody, MA, Pearl White of Lynn, Lucille Hodgdon, Claire
Wilson, Donna Maki and Diane (Mabel) Labrecque all of Salem. Ray also leaves dozens of nieces, nephews,
cousins, and friends who all loved him dearly. He will be remembered as a loving husband, a
devoted father, and a man of kind, gentle, and generous ways by all whose lives
he touched.
His funeral will be held on Friday at 10 a.m.
from the Berube and Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St. Salem (Rt. 1A/114)
followed by a funeral Mass in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, North St.
Salem/Peabody line at 11 a.m. Relatives
and friends are invited. Visiting hours
are Thursday 3-8 p.m. In lieu of
flowers, charitable donations can be made in his name to the Kaplan Family
Hospice House c/o Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St. Danvers, MA 01923,
or St. Joseph's Food Pantry, 15 Hawthorne Blvd. Salem 01970.
