Raymond J. Lagasse, age 63, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 at his home in Dracut. For 40 years, he was the beloved husband of Susanne (Loiselle) Lagasse.
One of fifteen children, he was born in Lowell on Feb. 16, 1945, a son of the late Archille and Dorothy (Dufault) Lagasse. Ray attended Lowell schools and attended Lowell Trade School where he was ranked first in his class specializing in carpentry.
He was a longtime resident of Dracut and a communicant of the former Ste. Jeanne d'Arc Parish in Pawtucketville where he was the head of maintenance up until it's closing in August of 2004.
Ray enjoyed woodworking and carpentry but mostly enjoyed helping his four sons and their families with remodeling their homes.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his four sons and three daughters-in-laws, John and Heather Lagasse of Windham, NH, Mark Lagasse of Nashua, Ryan and Paula Lagasse and Jason and Laurie Lagasse of all of Derry, NH; his brothers and sisters and their spouses, Pauline and Bob Ducharme, Jeannette Guillemette and Irene Ricard, all of Westford, Lucille and Philip Delfino and Ruth Arsenault, all of Florida, Andre and Theresa Lagasse of Westford, Armand and Anita Lagasse of Chelmsford, Dorothy and Paul Sjoman of Holden, Rose and Louis Gatteny of Florida and Archille Lagasse of Dracut; he was blessed with seven grandchildren who loved him dearly, Cameron, Joycelyn Joannne, Mark, Joseph, Nathan, Abigail Rose and Andrew; two brothers-in-law, David Loiselle and his wife Helene of Westford and Richard Loiselle and his wife Lisa of Lowell; also many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late, Leon Lagasse, Doris Proulx, Robert Lagasse and Bernadette Leahey, son-in-law of the late Anna (Breton) Loiselle who died Dec. 20, 2008 whom he resided with in Dracut and cared for during her illness, and brother-in-law of the late Joanne (Loiselle) Lagasse who died in 1998.
Relatives and friends may call at the M. R. LAURIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 295 Pawtucket St., Lowell on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 4 to 8pm. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock at Holy Family Parish (Ste. Marie Church) S. Lowell. Interment in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ste Jeanne d'Arc School Memorial Fund, 68 Dracut Street, Lowell, MA 01854.