Roland A. Desharnais
...retired Sgt. Major in the Mass Army National Guard; 78
TEWKSBURY - Roland A. Desharnais, age 78, a retired Sargent Major, and active member of
the Tewksbury community, died Wednesday, November 9, at the Veteran’s Administration
Medical Center in West Roxbury, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Barbara A. (Grant)
Desharnais, with whom he had celebrated a 55th wedding anniversary this past August 19.
He was born in Willimantic, Connecticut, on October 13, 1927, one of twelve children of the late
Real and Anna (Taschereau) Desharnais. He was raised in CT, but had lived the greater part of
his life in Tewksbury.
During WWII, he enlisted into the U.S. Navy. Upon discharge he joined the Massachusetts Army
National Guard, where he served for over 38 years, and retired as a Sargent Major.
He was a devote Catholic layman, a Eucharistic Minister, and attended daily Mass at St. William’s
Church in Tewksbury. He was a Past Grand Knight of the Fr. Coppen’s Council, 4336, Knights
of Columbus in Tewksbury, where he served on several club boards. He was also a member of the
Bishop Delaney, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He worked Thursday Bingo at the K of C,
and Friday Bingo as a member of the St. William’s Mens Club. He was a Past Master of the
Wilmington Grange, Chapter 268, and Past Subordinate of the Massachusetts Grange; former
officer of the Tewksbury Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 8164, member of the Tewksbury
D.A.V. Poat 110, and former member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington Elks Lodge, Post 2070. In
his later years, he was active in the Tewksbury Senior community, as a frequent visitor to the
Tewksbury Senior Drop-In Center.
Besides his wife, he is survived by six children, Ann Marie Cantwell and her husband Walter of
Tyngsboro, Patricia Judd of Lowell, John A. Desharnais of Tewksbury, Roland E. Desharnais and
his wife Elizabeth (Silver) of Burlington, Kevin W. Desharnais and his wife Joanne (Carney) of
Londonderry, NH, and Linda Y. Desharnais of Tewksbury; ten grandchildren; three great
grandchildren; ten sisters and brothers, Theresa Boissoneault, and Isabelle Serra both of NJ,
Raymond Desharnais, Real Desharnais, Dorothy Martell all of Claremont, NH, Lucille
Harrington of VT, Jeanette “Jay” Munnis of Hopkington, NH, Roger Desharnais of Tewksbury,
Gertrude “Trudy” Anderson and Henry Desharnais both of CA; and many nieces and nephews.
He was also father of the late Thomas D. Desharnais and William P. Desharnais; and brother of
the late Richard D. Desharnais.
His Funeral Mass was held Saturday, Nov. 12, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury. Interment with V.F.W. and U.S. Army Honors was held at Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the American Heart Assn., 20 Speen St., Framingham,
MA 01701-4688 will be appreciated.