Eric J. Bourque

LUNENBURG -- Petty Officer Eric J. Bourque, 23, of the U.S. Coast Guard and a former resident of Lunenburg, died on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 30, in Philadelphia, Pa., from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Mr. Bourque was born in Fitchburg on June 27, 1980, and lived in Lunenburg and Fitchburg for most of his life. He attended Notre Dame High School in Fitchburg and graduated in 1998 from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg, where he studied Drafting Technology.

Throughout high school Eric was an active member of the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. Realizing his lifes work by age 15, he completed a Para Rescue Organization Course at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico. He also graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Basic Training at Cape May, N.J. in 1998.

From there he served from September of 1998 to April of 2003 in Alaska. There he served on a small search-and-rescue boat directly resulting in eight lives being saved. He was awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal on Oct. 2, 2000. Petty Officer Bourque’s other assignments included the USCGC Achushnet, the Long Range Aid Station in St. Paul, Ala. and most recently the USCGC William Tate in Philadelphia, Pa.

He lived every day with zest, humor and a strong sense of family. He lived his life to the fullest each day, leaving no dream unchallenged.

Mr. Bourque is survived by his wife, Kristy (Monreau) Bourque; a daughter, Kayla Liberty Bourque, both in Washington state; his mother and father, James J. and Susan (LeBlanc) Bourque; his sister Jacquelyn, wife of Shayne Newton of Leominster; his paternal grandfather, Raoul Bedard of Fitchburg; his maternal grandfather, Robert LeBlanc of Fitchburg; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

BOURQUE -- On Nov. 30, Petty Officer Eric J. Bourque, 30, of Lunenburg. Calling hours in the Lavery-Chartrand Funeral Home, 99 Summer St., Fitchburg, are Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Full Military Honors will be presented at a graveside service on Friday at 3 p.m. in St. Bernard’s Cemetery, 4th Avenue, Fitchburg. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to the the Kayla Bourque Trust Fund c/o Banknorth, 2156 Main St., Athol, MA 01330.