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BORN

1924

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center

33 River Street

Jaffrey, New Hampshire

Leon Peragallo Obituary

- Leon J. Peragallo, 94, passed peacefully into the presence of Jesus, in the company of his family on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at the Jaffrey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Jaffrey, NH.

Leon was born prematurely October 11, 1924 at his family's apple farm in the close-knit Italian community of Matson Hill, Glastonbury, CT. The son of immigrants, he understood the value of hard work but also enjoying life and being part of a close, loving family.

He felt strongly about serving in the Second World War and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort Devens, MA in 1942, following graduation from Glastonbury High School. He was deployed to Framlingham, England as a Ball Turret Gunner in a B-17 bomber (flying fortress). On their 16th combat mission over Europe, the ship was shot down and crash-landed in the North Sea, August 2, 1943. Leon was then taken prisoner by a German patrol and sent to several POW camps but eventually Stalag Luft IV in Poland. He subsequently survived an infamous forced 500-mile, 52-day march back to Germany despite starvation and a chronic leg wound. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and an Oak-leaf Cluster.

Leon returned home to his beloved Matson Hill where he fell in love with Frances "Franny" Canapari. They married and went on to spend 70 years together, raising three children. Leon left the farm and became a printer at Finlay Brothers Printers of Hartford, CT, where he rose from maintenance to Vice President. He finished his career as a self-employed printer and owner of Colonial Printers of Glastonbury, CT.

Following retirement, Leon and Fran lived between Venice, FL and Glastonbury, CT until 2014, when they moved to the home of their son Tom in Rindge, NH. Leon loved spending time with his family including three children: James (Joy) Peragallo of Prospect, CT, Thomas (Donna) Peragallo of Rindge, NH and Joan P. Martin of Sarasota, FL; seven grandchildren: Rachel Urrutia of Apex, NC, Bethany Paquin of Jaffrey, NH, David Peragallo of Jaffrey, NH, Daniel Peragallo of Westminster, MA, Nate Peragallo of Cheshire, CT, Kayla Martin of Orlando, FL and Kallie Martin of Jacksonville, FL; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Our Dad, grandfather ("Nonno") and great grandfather ("Big Nonno") will be greatly missed but we will never forget the important gifts he left us, especially: "The honor system" and "Don't Quit!, his reliance on his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the twinkle in his eye, and the way that he made each one of us feel beloved. He was our hero.

Visiting hours will be held at 5:00 PM and memorial services at 6:00 PM, on September 4, 2019 at the Monadnock Bible Baptist Church, 210 South Woodbound Road in Rindge, NH where Leon was a member. A special outdoor service will be held on September 6, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the St. Augustine Cemetery on Hopewell Road in South Glastonbury, CT. The service will be followed by a reception and visiting at the Gallery Restaurant, 141 New London Turnpike from 12:00 to 3:00 PM.

To share memories, photographs and condolences with Mr. Peragallo's family, please visit his memorial at www.cournoyerfh.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Monadnock Ledger-Transcript from Aug. 30 to Sep. 3, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Leon Peragallo

Not sure what to say?





4 Entries

John Gaura

October 9, 2019

I worked with Leo at Finlay printers for more than 20 years, when he moved on to the graphic Center, Bloomfield, he contacted me and asked if I needed a better job. I did and after a short interview was hired on the spot.
While at Finlay's, he helped me learn the trade, Leo was a very good teacher and confidant.
We had a few disagreements, but I learned the hard way, I thought I knew everything at age 21.
I kind of followed in his footsteps and took over the positions he left because taught me how to do what he left.
Leo was a true mentor to me, I am truly grateful that I knew him well.
I was surprised to learn of his military exploits and proud to be associated with Leo, as we called him.
The TV show "Hogan's Heroes" came up in a conversation and Leo said they were not that stupid little did I know he was a POW in WW II.
I am so sorry that I did not keep in touch with Leo.
May he rest in peace and God bless his family, I am also sorry for their loss of such a great person.

A hero to many...Leon, in August, 2013, visited the "Memphis Belle" - a B17 similar to the one on which he served in WWII.

John Wentland

September 6, 2019

Doreen Marino

September 2, 2019

My deepest sympathies to Fran, Joanie, Tom, Jimmy, and the whole Peragallo family. I adored practically growing up in the Peragallo household with Joanie in the '70s;I always managed to end up on Spring St. Ext in those days for pizza and church... among other things! Leon was a sweet, wise, and lovingly funny man who always made me feel at home-even when he was trying to chase our adolescent shyness away with his 'amateur' photography. The world has lost a little of its luster with his passing. Blessings to the whole family.

The Cournoyer Family

August 30, 2019

Offering our deepest condolences at this difficult time.

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Memorial Events
for Leon Peragallo

Sep

4

Visitation

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Monadnock Bible Baptist Church

210 South Woodbound Road, Rindge, NH

Sep

6

Memorial Gathering

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Gallery Restaurant

141 New London Turnpike, CT

Sep

6

Service

11:00 a.m.

St. Augustine Cemetery

Hopewell Road, South Glastonbury, CT

Funeral services provided by:

Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center

33 River Street P.O. Box 486, Jaffrey, NH 03452-0486

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