William F. Cormier Sr.

William F. Cormier, Sr., 78, of Ashburnham, died peacefully Saturday, November 27th 2010 at home surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with brain cancer. Bill was born Sept 1st 1932 in Medford, MA, Son of Martin J. and Elizabeth (Mooney) Cormier. He was raised in Malden and moved to Ashburnham in 1967. Bill graduated from Malden Catholic High School and attended Merrimac College before entering the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He had a career in data technology spanning many years to include employment at I-TECH, Foster Grant, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Wang Laboratories and his own consulting firm WFC Consulting. Bill was a devout catholic and highlighted the midnight mass at St Denis with a powerful rendition of "O Holy Night" anticipated by parishioners every year. Bill was active in his community serving on the Ashburnham Advisory Board and as the Cub Scout Chairman for many years. Bill marched with the LT Norman Prince Drum and Bugle Corps out of Melrose including the year the Princemen captured the National Championship. Later Bill sang with the Princemen Chorus at many veterans and state official events. Bill was an avid golfer and was an integral part of the Wang Golf league at the Wang (Groton) Country Club. He established the infamous Irish American International Golf tournament with dear friends Owen, Freddie, and Russ. He was also a member of the Gardner Municipal Golf course where he and his wife Carol played many matches with the Heywood Memorial Hospital Golf League. Bill enjoyed traveling, singing, the Red Sox and spending time with his family. He leaves his wife of 51 years, Carol Ann (Wall) Cormier; eight children, including four sons, William Cormier, Jr. and his wife Evelyn of Phoenix, AZ, Stephen Cormier and his wife Kikue of Japan, James Cormier and his wife Meredith of Ashburnham, MA and Robert Cormier of Boston, MA; four daughters, Denise Cormier of New York City, NY, Suzanne Peacock of Owego NY, Cheryl Vanicek and her husband Jeremy of Omaha, NE and Michelle Hodges and her husband Aaron of Haverhill, MA; twelve grandchildren, James and Justin Peacock, Joshua and Jason Cormier, Zachary and Kendall Vanicek, Lia and Dylan Hodges, Cameron and Chelsea Cormier, and Rita and Elizabeth Cormier. He is survived by his sister Mary O'Leary and her husband Gene of Medford. Bill was predeceased by his sister Rita Sullivan and his brother Martin "Joe" Cormier. Family and friends are planning to honor and celebrate Bill's life by gathering for visiting hours in the Community Chapel of Lamoureux Fletcher & Smith Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner on Thursday, December 2, 2010 from 4-8PM. His funeral will begin at the funeral home on Friday, December 3, at 9AM followed by his Funeral Mass which will be celebrated at 10AM at St. Denis Catholic Church in Ashburnham. Burial will take place in St Denis Cemetery on Kelton Road in Ashburnham, immediately following the Mass. Those who wish to remember Bill by making a memorial contribution to a charity in his memory are kindly asked to consider the Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, 34 Pearly Ln., Gardner, MA 01440 or the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation For Academic Excellence, 11 Oakmont Dr., Ashburnham, MA 01430. For directions to the funeral home or to sign the online guest book for the family, please visit us online at www.fletchercares.com. Lamoureux Fletcher & Smith Funeral Home of Gardner is honored to have been asked to assist the Cormier family with arrangements.