Joseph Ernest “Ernie” Cotreau
Of Plaistow, WWII Army Veteran, 78
PLAISTOW- Joseph Ernest “Ernie” Cotreau, 78, died peacefully on Thursday morning Sept. 24, at his home in Newton, NH. He was the beloved husband of 53 years this past July to Grace(Anastasi) Cotreau. Ernie was born in Wakefield on October 20, 1930 the son of the late Michael and Lillian M. (Boudreau) Cotreau. He was raised in Malden and learned carpentry at Malden trade schools. He was a WWII army veteran. He moved to Tewksbury in 1956, and raised his family in the greater Boston area. He worked as a mason in Boston with the Local #534. He was a member of the American Legion Post #34. Ernie enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was a handy craftsman and enjoyed carving wood. Besides his wife he is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law: Robert and his wife Lois (Ober)Cotreau of St. Petersburg, FL.; Joseph E. Cotreau Jr. of Salem, MA, and Anthony M. Cotreau and his wife Debra Bumbaca-Cotreau of Townsend; two daughters Denise and Debra Cotreau both of Plaistow, NH; a brother and sister-in-law James and his wife Rita (Rideout) Cotreau of Billerica; two sisters Ethel Solazzi of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and Mildred Bennett of Stoneham, MA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was also brother of the late Elizabeth“Betty” Cohen, Paul Cotreau, and Pauline Hanson; brother-in-law of the late Donald Bennett and John Solazzi.
His Memorial Service was held Wednesday, September 30, in the funeral home.