Noël Albert Dubé

Noël Albert Dubé
built Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Pepperell,
decorated WWII vet; 90

PEPPERELL -- Noël Albert Dubé, 90, of Pepperell, MA, died peacefully at home on Friday, May 21, 2010 surrounded by his wife and family.

He was born in South Berwick, ME on December 25, 1919, son of the late Alfred and Florida (Deslauriers) Dubé. He graduated from Berwick Academy in South Berwick, ME in 1938. He lived in Rollinsford, NH for many years before moving to Pepperell, MA in 1972.

Mr. Dubé is survived by his wife of 64 years, Antoinette (Gruzewski) Dubé; two daughters, Maryanna Hiester and her husband, Edwin of Shrewsbury, MA, and Florida Cole and her husband, Richard of Roseville, CA; seven sons, Paul and his wife, Maura Laura LeBron of Rancho Dominquez, CA, John and his wife, Jennifer of South Berwick, ME, Gerard of Boston, MA, Christopher and his wife, Andrea of Keene, NH, Anthony and his wife, Concetta of Litchfield, NH, Vincent and his wife, Nora of Saugus, MA, and Alfred and his wife, Elizabeth of Holliston, MA.

He is also survived by 23 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Bernadette Fanning of Sanford, ME; nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his son, Noël in 1970, his granddaughter, Allyson Hiester in 1988, his brother, Emile in 1979, and sister, Lucienne in 1925.

Mr. Dubé was a decorated US Army veteran of World War II serving in the European theater with the 121st Engineer Combat Battalion, 29th Infantry Division. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was most proud of supervising the placement of the TNT and setting off the explosion that blew the wall at Vierville which allowed the heavy equipment to get off Omaha Beach. Mr. Dubé was invited to attend the dedication of a plaque which was erected by the town of Vierville, France, at Omaha Beach commemorating the event. He was awarded the silver deFleury medal and his name was placed on the 121st Engineers plaque at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA commemorating this event. In addition, a painting depicting the blowing of the wall is being placed at the 29th Division Museum in Baltimore, MD. Mr. Dubé was severely injured in Germany in early 1945 and awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, and 2 Bronze Stars.

After the war Mr. Dubé resumed working for his father in the wholesale grocery business. He then worked as an Assistant Commissary Officer at Pease AFB in Newington, NH. In 1968 he transferred to Fort Devens MA and later became the first civilian Commissary Officer. He retired after 16 years in 1984.

Mr. Dubé invented a table baseball game in his late teens. For a short time a league played regular table baseball games in South Berwick and it later was demonstrated to the Boston Braves manager Billy Southworth. Ted Williams once played the game with him. He avidly followed the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.

Mr. Dubé was a deeply devout Roman Catholic who attended Mass daily. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother, which led him to build a shrine to Our Lady of Fatima in Pepperell that has been visited by people from nearly all 50 states and many foreign countries. Over the years, many renowned speakers were invited to the shrine to share their faith which drew large crowds.

Mr. Dubé was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the 29th Division Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2009, Mr. Dubé was the Grand Marshall of the Pepperell 2009 Memorial Day Parade.

Dubé -- Visiting Hrs. at the Hamilton-McGAFFIGAN Funeral Home, 37 Main St. (Rte. 113), Pepperell, MA Tues., 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday 11A.M., May 26 at Our Lady of Grace Parish Worshipping at St. Joseph's Church 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA. Burial with military honors will be in New Town Cemetery, Rollinsford, NH on Thursday, May 27th.In lieu of flowers the family requests that Masses be offered for the soul of Mr. Dubé. Please contact your nearest Catholic parish if you are unsure how to do that. Please see www.mcgaffiganfuneral.com