Leo P. Collette Jr.

.... of Ashburnham

Leo P. Collette, Jr., 90 of Ashburnham, died Friday, June 17, 2022 at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus. Leo was born in Fitchburg, May 3, 1932, a son of Leo P. Sr and Albina (Thibault) Collette and grew up in Fitchburg. He was a 1950 graduate of St. Bernard's Catholic High School and continued his education at Wentworth Institute where he received Associates Degree in Machine Design and Pattern Making. Years later he received another Associates Degree in Industrial Management from UMass. During the Korean Conflict, Leo served his country in the United States Coast Guard as chief damage control officer on the USS Duane. Leo began his career as a Mechanical Designer at General Electric Corporation and later Barkley & Dexter as a Project Engineer. In 1961 he went to work as a Project Engineer at Crocker Burbank Corporation in Fitchburg, and subsequently became Chief Engineer at Weyerhaeuser Corporation and at James River Paper Company before his retirement in 1990. Leo leaves three sons, Richard M. Collette and his wife Theresa of West Boylston, Michael P. Collette and his wife Dawn of Gardner, David J. Collette and his wife Rita of Ashburnham; his only daughter, Michelle A. Gianino and her husband Dr. David Gianino of Ashburnham; his daughter in law Patricia Collette of Westminster; ten grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Loretta E. (Leger) Collette in 2014 and his son, L. Paul Collette III of Westminster in 2019. He was the brother of the late Anne Blanchard of Lunenburg, Robert Collette of California and Peter Collette of Fitchburg. An avid golfer, Leo was a longtime member of Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg. In 1982 he and Loretta participated in the People-to-People Cultural Exchange as a paper making ambassador where they travelled throughout China for a month. He was a member of St. Denis Church in Ashburnham where he served as a lector and past member of the Men's Club. Leo served his community in many capacities including a member and past chairman of the Ashburnham School Committee, Chairman of the Ashburnham Cub Scout Pack #18 Committee, founding member of the former Ashburnham YMCA, Chairman of the Board of Selectman for many years and a member of the Ashburnham Conservation Trust, Ashburnham Board of Water and Sewer Commission and a member of the Fitchburg Rotary Club. Leo loved spending time with family and friends. He and Loretta traveled all over the world making friends where-ever they went. Leo was a storyteller and loved reading poetry. He loved a good joke or a funny story. He enjoyed spending countless hours working in his yard on Upper Naukeag and raking the beach at Lower Naukeag where he loved to swim and watch the sunset surrounded by his family. Leo loved playing cards with family and friends, watching old slides and classic movies. Leo especially enjoyed cheering on his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all their many events.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Thursday, June 23, 2022 at St. Denis Church, 85 Main Street, Ashburnham. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Calling hours are 4-7 PM Wednesday at the Isabelle & Anderson Funeral Home, 316 Clarendon Street, Fitchburg. For additional information or to leave an online condolence, please visit their website at www.andersonfuneral.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Ashburnham Conservation Trust, PO Box 354, Ashburnham, MA 01430.



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