Joseph L. Courchesne

" Joseph L. Courchesne, 80, of Hillside Drive in the Bondsville section of Palmer, died Monday at Wing Memorial Hospital. Born in Ware, August 7, 1925, he was the son of the late Hector and Alice (Chagnon) Courchesne. He grew up in Ware, relocating to Bondsville 57 years ago. A proud Veteran, Joe served his country in the Navy during WWII , serving in both the Asiatic – Pacific and European- African Theaters. He was a member of the local American Legion, and the Swift River Sportsman’s Club. He was also a communicant of St. Bartholomew’s Church. Mr. Courchesne was a 35 year employee of Monsanto, retiring in 1987. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 57 years, June (Girouard) Courchesne, a son, Paul and his wife Donna of Marlborough, CT, a daughter Barbara Looney and her husband Brian of Agawam, along with four sisters, Simone Thibault of Braintree, Elaine Stepnowski, his twin sister, Lucille Pisarczyk, and Rita McQuaid all of Ware. He also leaves 5 grandchildren, one great grandson, and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a son Ronald in 1971, a brother Germain Courchesne and a sister Denise Beaudry. Funeral services will be Saturday, Nov. 19 at 9:15 a.m. from the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home, 1475 N. Main St, (Rte. 20) followed by a mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. Bartholomew’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service at 6:30. For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to either the Palmer Police Dept. Gift Acct., 4417 Main Street, Palmer, 01079, or Palmer Ambulance Service, Shearer St. Ext., Palmer, 01069. "