Salem: Raymond A. Pelletier, age 82, retired Lieutenant of the Salem Fire Department, died Monday, July 5, 2010 at his home following a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Ann M. (Guinivan) Pelletier, with whom he had shared 48 years of marriage.
Born and raised in Salem, he was the son of the late Joseph A. and Victoria (Roy) Pelletier. A graduate of Salem High and Burdett Junior College in Lynn, Ray enlisted in the Army at the close of WW. II and served in Alaska. Following his tour of duty, he returned to Salem and worked for the A & P Tea Co. as a bookkeeper and assistant manager from 1949 to 1963. In 1963 he joined the Salem Firefighters and retired as Lieutenant in 1983. Ray also was the owner of the Pickering Apartments of Salem.
Ray and his late wife were avid golfers, who were longtime members of the Thompson Country Club in N. Reading. He was a former member of St. Joseph Parish and currently St. James Parish.
He is survived by 5 children, Diane Graham and her husband Donald of Byfield, Thomas Pelletier and his wife Cindy of Peabody, Christine Pelletier of Salem, Philip Pelletier and his wife Karen of Georgetown, David Pelletier and his wife Karen of Camano Island, WA, 9 grandchildren, Krystal Berkstrasser of Southbridge, Kathryn & James Machado of Swampscott, Nathan Pelletier of Beverly, Jillian Pelletier of Salisbury, Marshall Pelletier of Lowell, Jason & Alison Pelletier of Georgetown, Carly & Ingrid Pelletier of Camano Island, WA. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren, Rayann & Michaela Benoit of Southbridge, Autumn Berkstrasser of Southbridge, Ava & James Machado of Swampscott and his devoted friend, Lorraine Paschke of South Lyon, MI.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral mass on Friday, July 9, 2010, at 11 a.m. in St. James Church, 156 Federal St., Salem, MA to be followed by his burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. There will be no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the North Shore 75 Sylvan St., Suite B 102, Danvers, MA 01923 or the Mass General North Shore Cancer Center, 102 Endicott St., Danvers, MA 01923. For guestbook please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com