Obituaries » RONALD A. DESMARAIS
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Burial Date February 21, 2011
Funeral Home Athy Memorial Home
Place of Service Immaculate Conception Church, Worcester
Section Garden of Heritage II Lot Number: 902Grave Number: A#2
Ronald A. Desmarais, 75, of Worcester and formerly of Grafton, was stricken ill and died Thursday, February 17, 2011 at his home.
His wife of 19 years, Frances E. (Brunelle) Collins Desmarais, died in 2008. He leaves three children: Lynn Pietal and her husband Paul of Sharon, Debra Hagberg and her husband Richard of Auburn, and Scott Desmarais and his wife Hiroe of Everett, Wash.; a stepdaughter, Deborah DeLibertis of Worcester; a sister, Rita Mathieu of Northbridge, and seven grandchildren. His son, Stephen Desmarais, died in 1988 and his stepson, Richard Collins, died in 2004.
Ron was born in South Grafton, son of David A. and Yvonne M. (Richard) Desmarais, and lived in Grafton more than 50 years.
He graduated from Grafton High School and Fisher Junior College. He also studied at Worcester State College and Clark University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.
Ron was a supervisor in several departments at the Norton Company, where he worked for 33 years, before retiring. He was also a realtor for Century 21 Parent Associates and Century 21 Tangney Associates for many years.
Ron served on the Grafton Town Finance Committee, South Grafton School Building Needs Committee, and the Grafton Housing Authority. During his tenure on the authority, the Town of Grafton built many elderly housing units.
He participated in the Loaned Executive program at United Way of Central Mass. He was a member of the Grass Roots Committee who organized Norton Company employees to oppose a hostile takeover by BTR in 1990. Ronald was the recipient of the Pioneer Award at Norton Company.
He was a former member of the Holden Towers Tennis Club and the Greendale YMCA.
Calling hours are Sunday, February 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral will be Monday, February 21 from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, 353 Grove St., Worcester. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts Veterans Shelter, 69 Grove St., Worcester 01605.