Laurence J. Carpenter Jr. “Larry” passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd, 2018 at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, MA. Larry was the oldest son of the late Laurence J. Carpenter and Kathryn Corrine (Bekkenhuis) Carpenter. He was born in Winchester and raised in Woburn, Massachusetts. He attended Woburn Public Schools, and was a graduate of Woburn Senior High School’s class of 1971. He was an active member of the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program during his tenure at Woburn High and this resulted in his enlistment in the U.S. Army after graduation. He prepared and completed his military training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and was then stationed in Germany, serving for 13 months. Unfortunately, Larry received a life altering injury while stationed there which resulted in an honorable medical discharge from service, where he returned home to the states.
Larry was classified at this time as a Vietnam era disabled veteran but improved to the point where he was able to work for several years as a watchman for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority. After he retired, Larry was admitted to the Edith Nourse Rogers Veteran Memorial Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts as a full time disabled resident where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was well known and loved by many of the staff and residents, and formed many long lasting friendships.
Larry was an avid Boston sports fan and regularly followed the Bruins, Patriots, and Red Sox. He loved to watch games either at the stadium or on television. He particularly was an enthusiastic baseball fan, following the Red Sox religiously and even taking in several Lowell Spinners games. He also loved and followed college football. BC and BU were a couple of his favorite teams, but he was most passionate about Notre Dame football to the point where he had the ‘Fighting Irish’ logo tattooed on his arm.
Larry maintained a positive attitude throughout his disability and he regularly got together with his family for dining, barbecues, parties, deep sea fishing and sports outings. He thoroughly enjoyed being with his family and made the most of it at these gatherings. Larry was also deeply religious. His faith in God was very strong and he never wavered from those beliefs, attending Chapel on Saturday afternoons regularly while at the VA. He will be sorely missed by all of his family and friends.
In addition to his parents, Larry was predeceased by his sisters Denise Boudreau-Sacco and Mary Carpenter. He is survived by his siblings Maureen Sacco and her husband Paul of Arizona, Michael Carpenter and his wife Linda of Chelmsford, Brian Carpenter and his wife Lisa, Jane O’Dea and her husband Kevin, and Kevin Carpenter, all of Woburn. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Larry will be held from the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Thursday, November 29th, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will conclude with Military Honors and burial at Calvary Cemetery, Winchester. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Larry’s memory to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org.