Donald Desjardins

CUMBERLAND - Donald Desjardins, 86, of Cumberland, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy (Whalen) Desjardins. They were happily married for 62 years. Born in Manville, he was the son of the late Alvarez and Antoinette (Paul) Desjardins.
Master Sergeant Desjardins was a cold war veteran of the Korean and Vietnam War. Most of his military years were spent with the Air Force Strategic Air Command. Some of the more notable assignments during his service; he was assigned to Shemya AFS, Alaska as a supply NCO in support of Project "Nancy Rae". In 1968 he was sent to Thule AB, Greenland for Project "Crested Ice" for three months to pick up parts from a B-52 that crashed on the ice near the base. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was sent to Homestead AFB in Florida as an 8 AF supply liaison. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Donald worked for 18 years for the US Post Office in Woonsocket. He was a member of the AF Sergeants Association, the American Legion, Post 9, Alphonse Yelle, Manville, and the DAV, Chapter 12.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Denis Desjardins and his wife, Karen, and Debra Walker and her former husband, Donald, his brothers, Andre and Bertrand Desjardins. He also leaves two grandchildren, Rachel and Sean Walker. He was the brother of the late Gerard Desjardins.
The funeral will be held Wednesday at 9:30AM from the O'Neill Funeral Home, 3102 Mendon Road, Cumberland, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM in Saint James Church, Division Street, Manville. Burial with military honors will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30AM in the O'Neill Funeral Home, Cumberland. In lieu of flowers, donations to the DAV, 61 Morin Street, Woonsocket, RI, 02895, would be appreciated.
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