WEBSTER – Joseph Raymond “Stretch” Harrigan, 88, died Monday, February 23, 2015 in Harrington Healthcare at Hubbard after an illness. His first wife, Helen (Fitzback) Harrigan died in 1986. His second wife, Shirley M. (Holt) Harrigan died in 1995.
He leaves a son, David P. Harrigan and his wife Cheryl of Dudley; a daughter, Nancy J. Loomis and her husband Lawrence of Plainfield, CT; 5 grandchildren, Kelly Poirier and her husband Brian of Franklin, Lawrence E. Loomis, Jr. and his fiancée Megan Ledoux of Moosup, David D. Loomis and his wife Amanda Lynne of Dayville, CT, and Jillian K. Loomis and Edward J. Loomis, both of Plainfield, CT; 4 great-grandchlldren, Connor, Cameron, Charlie and Caleigh Poirier; his longtime companion of 18 years, Vivian Ducharme; a stepson, Kenneth Patrowicz of Florida; a stepdaughter, Stephanie Leclair of Connecticut; nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Christopher J. Loomis in 1989, by a granddaughter, Colleen Harrigan in 2007 and by his sister, Marion Pederson.
He was born in Webster, the son of Harry J. and Grace M. (Bonneau) Harrigan and lived in Webster most of his life. He graduated from St. Louis High School, where he was the center on the varsity basketball team. He later attended Webster Trade School to study to be an electrician. When he first married, he lived in Oxford from 1955 to 1967.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving on the USS Diamond Head in the North Atlantic.
Mr. Harrigan worked for Massachusetts Electric Company in substation maintenance for 37 years, retiring in 1987. He then worked in grounds maintenance at Nichols College Golf Course in Dudley for 10 years.
He was a member of Saint Louis Church. He was a member of the Nichols College Golf Course, where he worked in the morning and golfed in the afternoon. He was a life member of the Auburn-Webster Lodge of Elks #2118 and also of the Killdeer Island Club. He was a square dancing enthusiast and participated in many tournaments including one at the World’s Fair in New York City. He loved to travel. He was a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
The funeral will be held Monday, March 2, from Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, with a Mass at 11:00 AM in Saint Louis Church, 14 Lake Street. Burial will be held privately. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Sunday, March 1, in the funeral home. Donations in his name may be made to either Saint Louis School Endowment Fund, 15 Lake Street, Webster, MA 01570 or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.