Paul L. Desrosiers

Paul L. Desrosiers, 87, of 14 Elmwood Street, died on Sunday, September 7, 2008, in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, after a short illness.

He leaves his wife of 62 years, Claire M. (Hebert) Desrosiers; 3 children: Roger L. Desrosiers and his wife, Claudette M. L. Desrosiers, of Millbury, Paula A. Olen and her husband, Daniel R. Olen, of Granger, IN, and Tran Duc Hung of Foothill Ranch, CA; 3 granddaughters: Danielle and Michelle Desrosiers and Dana Olen; 5 brothers: Roland Desrosiers of Bonita, CA, Joseph Desrosiers of Stonehaven, New Brunswick, Canada, Denis Desrosiers of South Grafton, Bernard Desrosiers of Charlton, and Daniel Desrosiers of Dudley; 3 sisters: Jeanne Messier of Charlton, Gilberte Chenette of South Grafton, and Yvonne Mitchell of Millbury; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by 2 brothers: Gerard Desrosiers of South Grafton and Georges Desrosiers of Sutton. He was born in the Fisherville village of South Grafton on August 10, 1921, a son of the late Leopold and Laura (DeGrandpre) Desrosiers, and has lived in Millbury since 1946. He was a 1939 graduate of Assumption Preparatory School, Worcester, attended Assumption College, Worcester, and graduated summa cum laude from Worcester Junior College.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a quartermaster aboard the attack cargo ship, USS UVALDE (AKA-88). He participated in the assault landings in Lingayen Gulf and supported the landings in Leyte Gulf and Mindoro, all in the Philippines; he also participated in the assault landings at Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 battle star.

Mr. Desrosiers was chief estimator at Ken Weld Co., Worcester, where he worked for 10 years before he retired in 1987. Before that, he worked for Armour Porter Co., South Grafton, for 14 years, and was a project engineer at C.P.C. Engineering Co., Sturbridge, for several years. He was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish where he was a server at Mass, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and a former member of the Men's Club. A member of the American Welding Society, he served on its board of directors for many years. He was also a member of the Welding Advisory Board of Worcester Vocational Technical High School, a life member of Charles F. Minney Post # 3329, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the Associates of the Sisters of the Assumption of the Blesssed Virgin. He was a former member of the Royal Travelers. Most people will fondly remember him for his love of books, a hobby he pursued up to the time of his death.

Mr. Desrosiers' funeral will be Wednesday, September 10, from Turgeon Funeral Home, 56 Main St., with a Funeral Mass at 11 AM in Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church. After cremation, he will be buried in Central Cemetery with military honors. Calling hours at the funeral home are Tuesday, September 9, from 5 to 8 PM. Members of Charles F. Minney Post, VFW, will assemble at 6PM in the funeral home to bid farewell to their departed comrade. Donations in his memory may be made to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 12 Waters St., Millbury, MA 01527.