Raymond A. Leroux

PRINCETON - Raymond A. Leroux, 86, a devoted husband, proud father of nine, U.S. Army veteran, and long-time Holden businessman, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

Born in Worcester on April 8, 1939, Raymond was the son of Adrien and Eva (Roy) Leroux of Shrewsbury. He grew up in Shrewsbury and attended Holy Name High School, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” St. John. The couple married in December 1957 and last year celebrated 67 years of marriage.

Shortly after their wedding, Raymond enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably as a staff sergeant during the Cold War. Stationed in Tirschenreuth, Germany, he was part of a U.S. intelligence unit monitoring radio transmissions along the Czech border—an experience he rarely spoke of but carried with pride throughout his life. After his honorable discharge, he was recalled to active service during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After returning home and starting a family, Raymond turned his passion for food and entrepreneurship into a lifelong vocation. In 1968, he founded Leroux Meats, which would become a staple of the Holden community for more than five decades. The business began humbly, with Raymond making sausage in the family’s basement to sell to local pizza shops, often after long days of other work. Eventually, Leroux Meats grew into a beloved Main Street institution, known for its quality products, friendly service, and unwavering commitment to the local community.

In 2009, the Holden Chamber of Commerce honored Raymond for his long-standing contributions to the town’s business landscape. His work ethic, humility, and generosity touched generations of customers, employees, and fellow business owners. Even after the store closed its doors in 2022 due to ongoing economic challenges following the pandemic, the Leroux family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the community that had supported them for so many years.

Raymond was a man of quiet strength, deep faith and was an active member of Prince of Peace parish since moving to Princeton in 1967. He had an immense love for his family and was happiest when surrounded by his children and grandchildren with whom he cherished simple moments—Sunday dinners, Red Sox and Patriots games, playing cards and telling stories over coffee at the kitchen table.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, of Princeton; his children: Dominic Leroux and his wife Mimi of Rutland, Christa Lee and her husband Brian of Cambridge, Daniel Leroux of Paxton, Anne Dauphinais of Holden, Eva Roeder and her husband Harold of Nelson, NH, Michele Leroux of Leicester, Charles Leroux and his wife Kris of Rutland, and Justin Leroux and his wife Shan of Arlington. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Raymond was predeceased by his son Adrien, who died in 1978. He was also predeceased by his parents Adrien and Eva, brothers George, Paul and Norman and sister Pauline. He also leaves behind his sisters Rita Thibeault and her husband Raymond of Shrewsbury, Janet Leroux of Ashburn, VA ; brothers Roger Leroux and his wife Carol of Shrewsbury, and Charles Leroux and his wife Chung Dee of Shelton, CT; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends, and longtime customers.

Raymond's legacy lives on in the values he instilled in his family and the countless lives he touched through a lifetime of hard work, kindness, and quiet generosity.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, November 7th, at Prince of Peace Parish, 1 Worcester Rd., Princeton. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Raymond may be made to UMass Memorial Health (UMMH) in support of oncology patient care. Gifts can be made online at ummhealth.org/giving or mailed to UMass Memorial Health, Biotech One, 365 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605.