Philias A. Desrosiers, 98, of Chestnut Street, Manville, died at St. Antoine Residence on Wednesday February 15, only one month shy of his 99th birthday. He was the loving husband for 68 years of the late Lucienne (Laplante) Desrosiers.
Born in St. Aime, P.Q. Canada he was the son of the late Maxime and Mathilda (Leveillee) Desrosiers. He resided in Manville for the past 68 years since his marriage in 1946 and previously lived in Albion.
Mr. Desrosiers was a World War II veteran having served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan with the 894th Medical Company.
Mr. Desrosiers was employed in the local textile industry as a highly skilled and much sought after practitioner of his craft.
A longtime communicant of St. James Church in Manville, Mr. Desrosiers was honored for being a lifelong member of the Alphonse Yelle American Legion Post # 9 in Manville with over 70 years of membership. He was a staunch Red Sox fan and enjoyed his garden. A “Master Handy Man” he could fix anything.
He is survived by a son, Philip Desrosiers, of Manville, and his sister Gilberte Gingras of Cumberland. He was the father of the late Marc Desrosiers, and the brother of the late Aurelien, Emers, Eugene, Louis Aime, Raoul, Wilfred and Flore Desrosiers, Irene Parent, Aurore Nault and his twin, Theresa Bissonnette.
In the words of his son Phil, “My dad will be remembered as the kindest, gentlest, most generous, caring and loving person that you could meet. He was a very faith filled person, a proud U.S. Army Veteran, and a faithful husband for nearly 70 years. Along with his great sense of humor he was loved by everyone who knew him”.
His funeral will be Monday at 10:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in St. James Church, 33 Division Street, Manville. Burial in St. James Cemetery will be private. Visiting hours are Sunday from 2-5 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. James Parish 33 Division St. Manville, RI. 02838.
www.menardfuneralhome.com