Albert "Frenchie" Cantara Sr.

1922 - 2016

PAWTUCKET - Albert Cantara Sr. was born January 22, 1922 and was raised and lived in Pawtucket, RI his entire life. He was the youngest of the six children born to Euclid and Rose Cantara. Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Al, "Frenchie" passed away on May 7, 2016 after 2 weeks in the hospital. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 73 years, Madeline McCarthy Cantara, who died on August 18, 2015. Together they raised 6 fortunate and grateful children and earned the love and devotion of countless nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and yes, great great grandchildren. He is survived by his daughter Karen (Gerard Menard) and sons Russell (Helene), Kenneth (Elinor), Kevin (Terri), Alan (Sherri), Albert Jr. (Jamie). In addition, he was survived by the Dyer family who lived in the same house on West Avenue in Pawtucket: his sister-in-law Irene (McCarthy) Dyer, nieces Brenda Garabien (Richard) and Lisa Sullivan (Dennis) and nephews Douglas Dyer (Peg) and Vincent Dyer.
Dad proved that neither wealth, nor fame, nor power grant you the love and respect he earned by being a good and kind man of strong moral fiber. He possessed a gentle sense of humor and unassuming courage. He served his country during WW II, missing D-Day by pure luck of the draw in the form of a bureaucratic error. He credited a hedgerow for making it out of France alive after an artillery shell exploded near him. After the war he went on to spend the bulk of his working life in the catering business. He worked hard with few vacation days and rarely a sick day. He was a member of the greatest generation that somehow forged on despite the traumas of war and who devoted themselves to their families and communities.
In addition to enjoying family gatherings, Dad belonged to bowling leagues and enjoyed playing cards and sharing a beer with friends at the Sons of Italy Club in East Providence. It was perhaps the only thing he truly did for himself; the rest of his life was devoted to work and family. He had an inventive mind and was a bit of a dreamer. Like the character of George Bailey in the movie It's a Wonderful Life, he sometimes had misgivings about his life circumstances and choices, but he always came back to his sense of duty to fulfill his responsibilities and in the end he was the richest man in town.
A celebration of Dad's life will be held from 10 - 11:45 a.m., Saturday June 11th at Grupo Amigos da Terceira, 55 Memorial Drive, Pawtucket. Remembrances and reminiscences will begin at 10:30. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Hope Hospice Center, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904. For online condolences visit www.thekeefefuneralhome.com