Medway – James A. “Jim” Duhamel, Sr., 63, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 11, 2026, at home, surrounded by his family, after living courageously with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
He leaves his devoted wife and caregiver of 18 years, Paula M. (Dumouchel) Duhamel; his son, James A. Duhamel, Jr., and his wife, Elizabeth Ditoiu, of Sacramento, CA; his daughter, Jillian R. Duhamel, of Clinton, CT; his mother, Shirley (Larson) Perzanoski, of Webster; his stepfather, Charles Perzanoski, and his partner, Sonya Zegarra, of Dudley; two brothers, William Duhamel, of Putnam, CT, and Scott Perzanoski and his partner, Monique Engel, of Woodstock, CT; his sister, Karen Kirk and her husband, Scott, of Pittston, ME; his stepson, Kevin Lewis, of Medway; his stepdaughter, Jessica Straub and her husband, Bradley, of Medway; four step-grandchildren, Ayla, Hudson, Thea, and Millie Straub; and several nephews.
He was born in Worcester on March 7, 1963, and grew up in Webster and Dudley. He was a 1981 graduate of Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, where he studied Tool and Die Making, following in his grandfather’s footsteps.
Jim enjoyed a 43-year career working for numerous machine shops throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, including many years at Century Tool and Die in Thompson, CT, and finishing his career at Putnam Plastics in Killingly, CT. He retired in 2024 due to illness.
Jim was a car enthusiast at heart. At a young age, he developed a passion for Trans Ams and, later in life, owned many Corvettes. He was a member of the Corvette Club of RI and Corvettes United of Central MA. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) and was a skilled fisherman, competing at the Nationals on Lake Okeechobee in Florida in 1989. It was a sight to see his bass boat being towed behind his Trans Am. Jim was exceptionally talented with his hands and could build or fix just about anything. He especially enjoyed making furniture and cabinetry and taking on home renovation projects. There was seemingly nothing he couldn’t do. His other hobbies included cooking, playing cards, and billiards. However, his greatest joy came from the time he spent with family.
The family is deeply grateful to Primary Nurse Brittany and the care teams at Salmon Hospice for their compassionate care and unwavering support throughout the past year.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, Webster. A funeral service will be held at 7:00 PM at the end of calling hours in the funeral home. The family requests that flowers be omitted and instead donations in his memory be made to either the ALS Association of Massachusetts, 200 Friberg Pkwy #1000, Westborough, MA 01581 or to Salmon Hospice, 37 Birch Street, Milford, MA 01757.