Obituary of Peter Arseneaux

Arnold “Peter” Arseneaux, a retired Cambridge dentist, passed away peacefully at the Blair House in Tewksbury on Tuesday morning, February 26, 2019 at the age of 92.  Peter was born in Cambridge, the son of Arthur P and Elizabeth E Arseneaux.  He grew up in N Cambridge and was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge Technical High School.  Days before his 18^th birthday, he enlisted in the Navy to serve his country in World War II.  He held the rank Pharmacist Mate Third Class and was the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal and the American Area Medal.  He spent much of his time in the Navy tending to returning wounded servicemen at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Brunswick Maine Naval Air Station, Quonset Point Naval Air Station, and the Chelsea Naval Hospital.  It was during these years that he was inspired to become a dentist.  After the war, he took advantage of the GI Bill to attend Providence College and then the University of Maryland where he earned his Doctors Degree in Dentistry.  He returned to his childhood home of N Cambridge and opened his practice on Massachusetts Avenue.  He had a successful practice for over 30 years retiring from dentistry in 1991. He spent 5 years working with his son-in-law at Harte Hanks Data Tech doing computer work then went on to work part time summers with his wife as ticket collectors at Canobie Lake Park well into his 80’s.

Peter resided in Burlington from 1960 to 1991.  During those years he was a very active parishioner at St. Malachy’s Church where he was a CCD teacher and director of Sixth Grade religious education.  He was also a member of the Burlington Knights of Columbus.  After retiring in 1991, he moved to Hampstead, NH and later Tyngsborough MA. Up until 2 years ago, he and his wife spent half the year in Lake Wales Florida at the Saddlebag Lake Resort where he and Lillian led a very active life with many close friends.  He didn’t miss the New England winters at all. He loved Bingo, singing while playing the piano, crossword puzzles and time spent with his family, basking in the sun at the pool or visiting Rainbo Club. Playing cards was a favorite family pastime, especially the games Aggravation and Tuck and he looked forward to the Wed night rivalries. He also loved his large extended family of four legged friends.  Peter made the most of his time on this earth as a dentist, friend, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

Peter was the beloved husband of 65 years of Lillian Marie (Verrier) Arseneaux. He was the proud father of  Debra Jenkins & her husband William of N Billerica, Joyce Nicoli & her husband John of Tyngsborough, and Gail Arseneaux & her wife Laura Gasparini of Tyngsborough. He was predeceased by his siblings; Arthur Arseneaux, Jr and Claire Hreha. He was the proud grandfather of Lindsay & Adam Farrell, Christopher Nicoli & Jasen Wheatley, Andrea & Bobby Colliton, Alison Nicoli, Dean & Hannah Paolillo. Great grandfather of Miles Pappaconstantinou, Melanie Colliton, and Sage, Marcel and Sophia Paolillo.

A memorial wake will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Sat.  March 9 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Peter’s name may be made to the American Red Cross.