SALEM — Philias J. "Phil" Verrette, 87, of Mason Street, Salem, died
Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 of injuries sustained after being stuck by a
motor vehicle near his home. He was the husband of Ruth F. (Swasey)
Verrette.
Born in Canada, the son of the late Emile and Aldea (Fafard) Verrette, Phil was a resident of Salem most of his life.
Mr.
Verrette was a veteran of World War II serving as a sergeant with the
30th Infantry Division, 119th Inf. Reg. Comp I. During the war, he was
awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal,
and several campaign medals including the European Campaign Medal with
5 Battle Stars. While in Europe, Philias took part in the invasion of
France (D-Day+2), Belgium, Holland, and Germany and was in the Battle
of the Bulge.
After the war, Phil worked for Mason Tanning in
Salem and Bill's Lunch in Lynn. Later, he worked for Salem State
College where he retired after 17 years.
He was a life member of
the V.F.W. Witch City Post 1524 joining in 1946. There, he had been
Post Commander in 1969 and later served as the president of the
building co-operation and bar manager and remained a dedicated member
for many years. Mr. Verrette was also a life member of the 30th
Infantry Division Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart,
the D.A.V., the Franco American Club, and the Loyal Order of Cooties.
Phil was an associate member of the A.O.H. Salem, the Lafayette
Association, the P.L.A.V. Post 55 Salem and the Moose Lodge in Salem.
Surviving
him, along with his wife, Ruth, are one daughter, Phyllis and her husband
Paul Bloom of Seminole, Fla.; two sons, Salem Police Officer Philias
Jr. and Paul Verrette of Salem; a step-daughter, Carol Thibault and her
husband Leon of Beverly; four grandchildren, Wendy Arroyo, Douglas
Bloom and Nathaniel and Emily Verrette; four brothers, Rosaire of
Salem, Raymond of Seabrook, N.H., Jeanpaul of Peabody, and Roger of
California; five sisters; Mary Jane Gagnon, Theresa Burton, and Noella
Melanson all of Salem, Georgette Gagnon of Wilmington, and Yvonne
Verrette of Danvers. Philias was the brother of the late George,
Conrad, Gerald, Emile and Adrien Verrette.
ARRANGEMENTS:
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral Mass at Ste. Anne
Church, Jefferson Ave., Salem, Monday at 10 a.m. followed by a military
service and burial at Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours are in
the Berube and Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St., Salem, (Route
1A/114) Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
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