Robert E. Bergeron

Father Robert E. Bergeron died Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at St. Patricks Manor, Framingham. Born in Marlborough, March 10, 1928, he was the son of the late Arthur and Edna (Harpin) Bergeron. Fr. Bergeron was educated at St. Anthonys School of the former St. Marys Parish, Marlborough. He graduated from Joliette College, Province of Quebec, Canada, before entering St. Johns Seminary, Brighton, in September of 1946. He was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 10, 1952, by the late Richard Cardinal Cushing. Father Bergeron served as the Parochial Vicar at St. Anthonys Parish, Shirley, and for a short time at St. Annes Parish, Littleton. In February of 1956, he began active military service as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force. He served in that capacity for almost 27 years, both in the United States and overseas. He was stationed in Alabama, Florida, New York, Alaska, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Hawaii, Nebraska, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. His overseas postings took him to Japan, Germany and Thailand. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of colonel in 1982. He then returned to the Boston Archdiocese, where he served at St. Josephs Parish, Waltham; St. Thereses Parish, Dracut; and St. Catherines Parish, Westford. As a senior priest, he became a resident of Carmel Terrace, an assisted living facility in Framingham, in January of 2000, where he lived until moving to Regina Cleri, Boston, a home for retired priests, in January, 2010. Father Bergeron is survived by his nephew, Guy G. Cascio and his wife, Rosemary, of Mendon; his nieces, Debbie vanHees and her husband, Ad, of The Hague, Netherlands; and Donna Lambert and her husband, James, of Milford. He is also survived by his great- nieces and great-nephews, Anneke and Emma vanHees and Anthony and Rob Cascio. He was also the brother of the late Rev. Arthur I. Bergeron, who was also a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, and the late Lorraine (Bergeron) Cascio and her husband, the late Guy Cascio. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, March 3, at 11 a.m., at Holy Family Chapel at St. Patricks Manor, 863 Central St., Framingham. Burial will follow in St. Marys Cemetery, Beach Street, Marlborough. Visiting hours are Wednesday, March 2, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Slattery Funeral Home Inc. (www.slatteryfuneralhome.com), 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough, MA. Prior to the funeral Mass at St. Patricks Manor, there will be a visiting hour from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Carmelite Sisters, 863 Central St., Framingham, MA 01701.