Albert Lavoie

AYER -- Albert J. “Joe” Lavoie, 78, of 12 Jackson St., died on Monday, Oct. 22, at the Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.

Mr. Lavoie was born in Fitchburg on Aug. 21, 1929, a son of Albert J. and Lucy (Bean) Lavoie, and resided for more than 40 years in Weehawken, N.J., before returning to Ayer in 1993.

He was a graduate of Leominster Trade High School. From 1953-1956, during the Korean Conflict, he served his country in the United States Army. Prior to that, he served for eight years as a merchant marine. He continued to serve his country for 30 years as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army Reserves.

For more than three decades, Mr. Lavoie worked as a Relief Inspector for the Ford Motor Company, retiring in 1981. Following his retirement, he worked for 10 years for the Town of Weehawken, N.J.

While residing in Weehawken, he was instrumental in the formation of the Weehawken Volunteer First Aid Squad. He served as president of the squad, and also, later, as a volunteer, culminating 20 years of service to the health and safety of the people of Weehawken. He was later recognized as the squad’s first charter member. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Ayer.

He was the husband of Grace M. (Fowler) Lavoie, who died in March 1999. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Lavoie, with whom he resided in Ayer; a son, Wayne J. Lavoie of Jersey City, N.J.; two sisters, Theresa A. Messer and Lucy J. Lavoie, both of Ayer. He was the brother of the late Daniel M. Lavoie of Florida, Claire Lavoie, Mary Lavoie and Beatrice Lavoie, all of Ayer.

LAVOIE -- A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, at St. Mary’s Church, 31 Shirley St., Ayer. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Calling hours are 6-8 Thursday at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Route 2A, Ayer. Please see andersonfuneral.com for additional information. Memorial contributions may be made to the Weehawken Volunteer First Aid Squad, 201 Highwood Ave., Weehawken, NJ 07086.