Maurice J. Frechette

On May 21, 2017 we lost the most amazing and wonderful father, friend and teacher. There was nothing this man wouldn't do for family or friends. He would have been 100 in November. He passed away at St Johnsbury Health and Rehab Center after fighting years with Alzheimer's. Maurice was born in Tingwick, Quebec, Canada November 13, 1917 to Archille and Rose Emma Frechette, he was one of 8 children. On June 26, 1926 in Norton Mills, Vermont he became a United States Citizen along with his parents, brothers and sisters. As a young boy he helped his father run their farm on the French Road in Dalton, New Hampshire. When he was older he started work for the Gilman Paper Company and also still worked on the farm and helped his brother Omar in his garage. In February 5, 1941 he joined the US Army, Anti-Tank Company 172 Infantry, 43rd Division. He left for the Pacific in October 6, 1942 to fight the Japanese on Guadalcanal, Rendover, New Georgia Group and Munda, New Guinea, the Philippines, Leyte Luzan and Manila. While in the Philippines he had the privilege to drive John F Kennedy around. He told us that Kennedy hardly ever wore a shirt while there. At the time of course he really did not who Kennedy was until he ran for President. As a survivor of the USS Coolidge, it was his duty to make sure that all the crew was off the ship when it hit bombs in the pacific and he got off himself not long before the ship sunk. They all swam to the nearest island and upon reaching the island they all had to get their clothes of because of all the oil in the water from the USS Coolidge. Once on the island they had to find food and also make friends with the natives of the island until they could be rescued. On October 10 1945, he was Honorable Discharged in Fort Devens, MA, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star. On his return he went back to work for the Gilman Paper Company. At that time his wife to be was working at the Gilman Post Office as a clerk for her mother Helen Boyle. On December 30, 1945 he married his longtime sweetheart Rita Boyle and started their life together in Gilman. They had three children, Sharon, Dennis and Gary. Maurice continued to work at the paper company. He also got a pilot's license in 1947. He owned a small piper cub airplane and became a member of the Civil Air Patrol, flying all over New England for Aero-New England Associates. He kept his plane at the Whitefield Airport, where his cousin William Moran, also kept his plane. At times he kept the plane in his garage, while he would work on it and then take it back to the airport. Whenever we as a family would go anywhere the airport was one of the first places he would take us. Many times as kids he would take us to North Conway, New Hampshire, where there as an airport right on the main road. It's where Settlers Green is now. In 1957 he quit working for the paper company and applied for clerks job at the Gilman Post Office because my grandmother retired and my mother was given the Postmasters job and was awarded the job. In June 1972 my mother retired and dad got the Postmasters Job in September. While being Postmaster he attended many conventions and would approach the Postmaster General and tell him that Gilman needed a new Post Office. So soon after dad retired in 1980 Gilman got a new Post Office. He was the Boy Scout Master for 14 years, teaching the boys how to setup tents, survive if ever alone in the wood and how to mark trails so they could always find their way back from a hike. He was active in St. Theresa's Catholic Church, helping with bazaars and any events. He became a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the American Legion, when on any holidays would march in parades around Gilman, Lunenburg and East Concord and wherever else they were asked to participate. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling, where he also was member of the Snowmobile Club, blazing trails and scraping them because he had the heaviest machine to do so. When he was done he donated the machine to the club. When his kids were involved in school sports and all activities he was always there if possible. He and Rita loved to play cards on weekends with friends and family. During the summer he enjoyed grilling and having his nieces and nephews come for a picnic on his patio, where they would bring all the food and visit for a few hours and return home. Some would come from California, Maine and Missouri just to visit Dad. He is survived by his children, Sharon, Dennis and Gary and one sister Collette Tessier 93, of New Hampshire. He leaves four grandchildren, Lyndsay, Alison, Adam and Sarah and two great grandsons Andrew & Jonathan. He was pre-deceased by his wife Rita who died in 1995 and brothers Felix, Orad, Omar and Gerard, three sisters, Yvonne, Ora and Simone and many nieces and nephews. There will be a Graveside Service, with full military honors and Knights of Columbus honor guard on Friday, August 11 at 1pm at the South Lunenburg Cemetery. As the time approaches we will post time and place again.

Maurice J. Frechette

November 13, 1917 - May 21, 2017