Mario Lopriore

Mario Lopriore, 83, of Millbury, died on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, after being stricken ill in his home.

His wife of 53 years, Anne (Chiras) Lopriore, died in 2001. He leaves his son, Michael C. Lopriore of Millbury; 2 brothers: Alfred Lopriore of Shrewsbury and John Lopriore of Grafton; 3 sisters: Florence Lorusso of Shrewsbury, Gloria Trudel of Boylston, and Lenore Makowiecki of Auburn; nephews and nieces; grandnephews and grandnieces. He was predeceased by 2 brothers: William Lopriore of Shrewsbury and George Lopriore of Worcester, and by 2 sisters: Camilla Terry of Holden and Josephine Sharron of Shrewsbury. He was born in Worcester on March 27, 1925, a son of the late Michael and Maria (Pescara) Lopriore, and moved to Millbury in 1949. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, serving as an aircraft mechanic in the Asiatic-Pacific theater of operations. He participated in the invasion and battle for Okinawa and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1946.

Mario owned and operated M. Lopriore General Contractors, Inc., Millbury, for 28 years before retiring in 2004. He also worked as a line patrolman and roving operator at the Millbury substation of the New England Power Co. from 1949 to 1986. He was a member of St. Brigid Catholic Parish and Charles F. Minney Post # 3329, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed his vegetable garden and sports, especially following the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox. He and Anne also enjoyed wintering in Port Charlotte, FL, and taking vacation trips in the U.S., the Caribbean, South America and Australia.

His funeral will be Monday, October 20, from Turgeon Funeral Home, 56 Main St., with a Funeral Mass at 10 AM in St. Brigid Catholic Church, 59 Main St. Entombment with military honors in St. John's Cemetery Mausoleum, Worcester, will follow the Mass. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday, October 19, from 4 to 7 PM. Members of Charles F. Minney Post will bid farewell to their departed comrade at 5:30 PM during the calling hours on Sunday.