Marcel P. "Sam" Pierel 91, of 10 Rhode Ave. formerly of Woonsocket, died
Saturday at St. Antoine Residence. He was the husband of Viola R. (Lemieux) Pierel. Mr. Pierel was born in Woonsocket a son of the late Emile B. and Emma (Fafard) Pierel. Mr. Pierel was a 1939 graduate of Mt St. Charles Academy. He was a machinist at the Fenwal Co., and Whitens Machine Shop for many years retiring in 1980.
A veteran of WWII, Mr. Pierel served in the 243rd Coast Artillery Battalion in Southern Rhode Island from 1941 to 1943. From 1943-1945, he was Technician Fourth Grade in the Artillery Section of First US Army Headquarters. After participating in five major European campaigns, he received an Honorable Discharge, the American Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon. In June 2004, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, he was given an award by the French government for the role he played in the Normandy Invasion. He was a member the Veterans of Foreign War #6342 in N. Smithfield.
Besides his wife he is survived by seven children, Marc Pierel and his wife Carolyn of Weatherford, TX, Michelle Deslauriers of Woonsocket, Monique Pierel of Keene, NH, Marcel Pierel and his wife Monica Salinas of ElPaso TX, Marie Pierel-Doucette and her husband Richard Doucette, and Marguerite Pierel and her husband Emile Thibeault all of Woonsocket, and Maurice Pierel and his wife Michelle of Neuilly Sur Seine, France, a brother Emile Pierel of Cumberland, three sisters Gertrude Marchand of N. Smithfield, Jeanne Mance Soucy of Melborne, FL, and Ruth Phillips of Fort Worth, TX, nineteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son-in-law Robert Deslauriers and siblings, Gabrielle Blanchette, Bernard, Adrien, and Andre Pierel.
His funeral will be held Friday at 9:00 AM from the Fournier & Fournier Funeral Home, 99 Cumberland St. Woonsocket with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Precious Blood Church, Carrington Ave. Woonsocket. Burial with Military Honors will be held in Resurrection Cemetery in Cumberland. Visiting hours are Thursday 5-8 PM. The Pierel family would like to thank the staff at St. Antoine Residence for their excellent care. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Antoine Residence, 10 Rhodes Ave N. Smithfield, RI 02896 Attn: Joyce Corsi in his memory would be appreciated.