Obituary of David E Pelletier

David E. Pelletier of Woburn, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at the age of 86.  David was the beloved husband of the late Margery A. (Wood) Pelletier. David and Margery married in 1955 and settled in Woburn in 1959 where they would raise their four children, Mark, Shelly, Scott & Gary

David was born in Melrose to Helen and Ernest Pelletier and was one of six children.  David was raised and educated in Reading where he played varsity Baseball and Hockey.  David was a veteran of the Korean War from 1953-1955, serving his country in the United States Army, stationed in White Sands New Mexico, as a ground crewman for surface to air missiles.  He achieved the rank of Corporal and was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. 

After his discharge from the Army David worked initially for Sears & Robuck Co. as a cabinet installer, later starting his own business Quality Kitchen’s which he operated for many years. David went on to work for Polaroid Corp., initially as a carpenter and later a trade specialist in the physical plant, and retired after 30 years of service with Polaroid.

David, who was an avid Hockey fan, was also active as a coach, early founder and director of Woburn Youth Hockey. He was equally involved in Theater, Band and Scouting with his children.  In the summers David also took his family camping in the pop up trailer all over New England and Canada.

David was a creative and talented craftsman beyond his cabinet business and work.  He made countless pieces of furniture, desks, cradles, benches, Adirondack Chairs as well as many beautiful pieces of wood and fabric artwork and quilts, which gave as gifts to family and friends or donated to charitable endeavors, including the Bedford VA, People Helping People Wish Tree for children, and St Margaret’s Church in Burlington.

        David was a devout Catholic and a longtime member of St. Margaret’s.  He attended daily Mass where he made many friendships.  He was also a lecturer and a Eucharistic Minister at St. Margaret’s, and his faith was an important part of his life especially during his retirement years. 

In retirement David enjoyed spending time with his adult children and his grandchildren and especially enjoyed trips to Tennessee to visit his daughter, Shelly and her 3 girls and his son in law Jim, who he lovingly referred to as “what’s his name.”   Dave was especially pleased last year to meet his great grandson Luke.

        David was a kind, generous and loving man who cared deeply for his family, friends, children and grandchildren, and touched many lives in his time with us. He will missed by many.  Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to Alzheimer’s Awareness or the Bedford VA.

        David was the beloved husband of the late Margery (Wood).  Loving father of Mark Pelletier & his partner Sue Sullivan of Billerica, Michele Mangiacotti & her husband James of TN, Scott Pelletier & his partner Paul Sullivan of Bedford and Gary Pelletier of Millis.  Proud grandfather of Jamie Jimenez & her husband Jonathan, Joel, Curran & Maggie Pelletier and Miranda, Kayla & Stephanie Mangiacotti. Great grandfather of Luke Jimenez.    Brother of the late Jean Morris and William, Robert, Ernest & Donald Pelletier.  Dear friend of Erick and Joannie Scholl.   Father-in-law of Jennifer Pelletier of Millis.  Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Monday, March 11 from 6-8 p.m.  Funeral from the Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 12 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m.  Burial to follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.  Memorials in David’s name may be made to Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730    For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net & www.stmargaretburlington.org

David E Pelletier:       Eulogy by Gary           

 

On behalf of the Pelletier family I’d like to thank everyone who has paid their respects to our dad Dave, and condolences for his passing last evening and today.  And I’d like to thank Sullivan’s for all their work honoring Dave, and of course thank you to Father Conroy, and St. Margaret’s for this Mass of Christian Burial.

 

Dad was born in Melrose on November 1^st 1932..All Saints Day

He grew up in Reading, the youngest boy of 6 siblings, his 4 older brothers Ernie, Roger, Bob, and Donald, and younger sister Jean, children of Helen and Ernest Pelletier.

 

He Graduated from Reading High School, where in addition to Baseball, he played  Hockey, one of his many lifetime passions.  Dad would play any position but was primarily a Goal Tender, this was long before face masks, so he was tough, and a little crazy.  Dad was an avid Bruins and Hockey fan, and was one of the founders of Woburn Youth Hockey, even laying out the lines and circles on the flagship rink at the Joyce Jr High, when it was first built.

 

Like so many of his generation, after High School he entered the military, serving in the Army from 1953 to 1955, he was stationed in White Sands New Mexico, and worked as a ground crewman on early surface to air missiles, including the Nike missile.

 

It was also as a young man that Dad found another one of his many life-long passions, Airplanes.  He flew as a private pilot for a brief period in the fifties, until the obligations of work and family took priority, but he never lost his love of planes and flying, building and flying radio controlled models, going to airshows, and of course crafting many toy planes as evidenced in his project portfolio.

 

After returning home from the Service, Dad Married our Mom, Margery Ann Wood in 1955, eventually settling in Woburn where they had 4 children over 10 years, 3 head- strong, trouble making boys, Mark, Scott and myself, and 1 daughter, Michele, “Shelly” who Dad always referred to as his “favorite daughter”.

 

Despite working hard and often to support a family of 6, Dad was still very active in all of our pursuits, whether it be coaching hockey and baseball, going on weekend camp outs with the scouts or building sets for the high school musicals. 

Dad was the original “soccer mom”, whether 6am hockey practices,  piano lessons and rehearsals, band or paper routes in bad weather, Dad was always there, he never let us down.

Money was tight but we never went without, we always had hockey and baseball gear, tents and uniforms, instruments, piano lessons , one way or another he came through.  But of course Dad made us work for it, he was adamant that there was “no free rides” we had to earn it.

 

And we had things that many other kids didn’t, like our own swimming pool, and a skating rink in the front yard,  way before that was “a thing”.  We had a tent trailer and went on camping trips all over, Sebago Lake, Hermits Island, Prince Edward Island, all in the station wagon, he’d pack up the “family trickster” just like the “Griswalds”

 

After the service, Dad worked for Sears Robuck & Co. as a cabinet installer and eventually started his own business, Quality Kitchens out of the shop in our basement.  After a few years of self-employment he took a full time job, working in the carpenter shop on Memorial Drive in Cambridge for the Polaroid Corporation.  Of course he “moon lighted” doing kitchens and small projects on weekends, to make ends meet well into late 1980’s. He spent in all 30 years working in various capacities for Polaroid, in Cambridge, Norwood, and finally at the Reservoir in Waltham. So its not surprising for his retirement at 63 there was a big send-off party from his “polaroid family”.

 

Another of Dad’s life passions, was building and creating things with his hands, mainly wood working in various forms as well as quilting.  From the earliest cranberry scoops and clam baskets to his post retirement fabric and wood wall art.  From Desks and Benches, Adirondack Chairs, Coffee Tables, Dough Boxes, Dry Sinks and Jelly cabinets to the smallest toy cars, planes, and even piggy banks,  99% were made for and given as gifts!  He loved making gifts, and Chocolate Chip Cookies!  Which were even more highly coveted.

And so expectant Mothers at the VA got baby cradles, friends and family with toddlers, and all his grand children got rocking horses, toy cars and trains.  And all with a lifetime warranty.

And of course his unique and incredible wall art, which so many us have hanging proudly in our homes.  From the most deeply spiritual passage or covered bridge or light house, to pictures of Boo boo Bear and Hokie Wolf, each one had meaning, was created by hand, with joy and love, and was numbered, dated, and signed “love and prayers” Dad or Dave. All his work bore the “dove” symbol on the front and “Made for the Glory of God” on the back.

 

Dad’s deepest and most important life passion was his faith.  His retirement allowed him to become very active in the church, here at St Margaret’s, he attended mass daily, became a Eucharistic Minister, and was a fixture here at St. Margaret’s for many years. 

Dad considered himself a servant of God, and he actively followed that path in his own way.  He shared his faith openly, but he never preached, or imposed his will or faith on others, he accepted everyone, and he respected people and their choices, and in fact one of the many pieces of advice my siblings and I were given throughout our lives was “Live your own life, do what makes you happy”.  Dad would also say “if you can help someone, help them, don’t ask why, just help”.  I think that Epitomizes Dad to T, and how he lived his life and the legacy he left for his friends and family.

In going through Dad’s things this weekend we came upon a prayer he had written, and with Father Conroy’s permission we’d like to share it with you. 

 

 

David’s Prayer

 

Dear Lord:

 

Thank you for the gift of life, for the gift of love

may I always have enough to share with everyone.

 

Thank you for the gift of faith, may it burn deep in my soul,

and grow stronger each day, and with the help of your grace,

may I never lose it.

 

Please bless my soul with grace and virtue.

 

May I walk in your footsteps, may I truly become one of your apostles

and be more aware of your presence, to lead by example,

to help to bring someone to the faith,

to become a better, stronger and a more devout catholic today

than I was yesterday.

 

Please guard and watch over me,

help me to do what is right, to make good decisions.

 

Keep me well and heal me when I am sick, if it is your will.

 

Thank you for dying on the cross to make my salvation possible,

for the Eucharist, our Blessed Mother,

and all the other gifts you bring to us each day.

 

May I help someone along the road of life,

to do what you desire me to do.

 

I offer my works, prayers, suffering and joys of this day

in reparation for the sins of the world.

 

Jesus I trust in you, and give you all my cares

and problems of this day for you to take care of.

 

Thank you for the prayers you have answered

all the healing you have done, and

the blessings you have bestowed on my family and I

                                               

Amen