East Bridgewater - Leo E. Provost, 88, of East Bridgewater, formerly of Abington and Brockton, died Wednesday September 9, 2015. He was the devoted husband of 52 years to Patricia A. (Roberts) Provost until her passing in 2002. He remarried and was the beloved husband of Joan Wolent for the past 10 years.
Born and raised in Brockton he was the son of the late Hilaire and Delia (Nault) Provost.
Leo had attended Brockton schools until he turned 18 and had entered the US Army in January of 1945. Upon his return from active service, he received his high school equivalent degree and was employed for more than 40 years with the former Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P Food Stores). After retiring from the A&P, he had worked for the Tedeschi’s Food Market chain for several more years until his full retirement in 1990.
In retirement, he enjoyed family activities (especially when it involved his grandchildren), golfing regularly and for several years spending the coldest months of the year in Florida. Unable to “sit still” he obtained a ranger’s job at Ridder Golf Course in East Bridgewater, a position he held until almost his mid-80’s.
He was a long time member of Saint Bridget’s Parish in Abington and had worked for many years assisting with their food pantry (an area he had a fair amount of experience and knowledge with).
In addition to his wife Joan he is survived by his loving children Leo E. Provost, Jr. and his wife Claire of Abington, Rosemary Burnett and her husband John of Whitman and Ellen Marie Atkinson and her husband Roger of Abington, his son-in-law Lawrence Jones, his sisters Rita Cribben and Theresa Maheux, his grandchildren Christopher Jones, Lauren Alles, Michelle Poirier, Caroline Provost, John J. Burnett, III, Joshua Burnett, and Sarah, Melissa, Nicholas, Emily, Molly, and Benjamin Atkinson, and his great grandchildren Cady and Christopher Alles and Gracie and Avery Poirier. He is also survived by his step-children Brian Wolent, Lynette Wolent and Theresa Ferris and her husband Jim and their children Catherine, Christine, Emily and Erin, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his first wife Patricia, his daughter Elizabeth Anne Jones, his siblings Paul Provost and his wife Mary, Charles Provost and his wife Margaret, George Provost and his wife Miriam, Emelia Enemark and her husband Christian, Albert Provost and his wife Kathleen and Lorraine Provost, and his two brothers-in-law Harold Cribben and Joseph Maheux.
His services will be held Monday September 14 at 9:30 AM from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary) Whitman, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 AM in St. Bridget Church, Abington. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Rockland. Visiting hours will be held Sunday September 13 from 3:00-7:00 PM.
Donations in his name may be made to the Abington Food Pantry, C/O St. Bridget Church, 455 Plymouth Street, Abington, MA 02351 or to the Hospice of the South Shore, 30 Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370.