J. J. Raymond Roy, of Derry, NH, passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. He was the first born of the late Jean Thomas and Claudia Roy at the family home in Lawrence, MA on August 3, 1930. Ray was a 1948 graduate of Central Catholic High School and also numerous military service schools. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 9, Derry, NH.
Ray was proud of his 31 years in the National Guard, with 14 years of active duty culminating with service at the Command Sergeant Major of the Massachusetts National Guard. He received many awards and citations for meritorious service including the Legion of Merit. While a member of the part-time National Guard he was employed in apartment management and remodeling. After retiring from the National Guard, he worked as a church secretary at Sacred Heart Church in Lawrence and later at Holy Trinity in Lawrence. After retiring a second time, he volunteered at the VA in Manchester, NH and later at the Caritas Holy Family Hospital. One great enjoyment in his life was also serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector at the Parish of St. Anne in Hampstead, NH and earlier at Sacred Heart Parish in Lawrence where he also was the Administrator of the Religious Education Programs.
Ray is survived by his closest friend and his devoted wife, Carla. He also leaves his daughters, Lauri King of Cheektowaga, NY and Debra Cooper and her husband John of The Woodlands, TX, his sons, David Pozerycki and his wife Tammy of Northboro, MA and Jeffrey Pozz and his wife Deniele of Boxborough, MA, a brother, Joseph A. Roy of E. Wareham, MA, sisters, Rita Ouellette of Derry, NH, Annette and her husband Rev. Douglas Haseltine of Forest Lake, MN, Lucille Trochesset and her husband Hank of Virginia Beach, VA and Juliette Roy of Whitehall, PA, 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Ray is predeceased by a sister, Caroline, Roy.
Friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12th at the Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 13th at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church, Hampstead, NH. Burial will follow at the New Hampshire State Veteran’s Cemetery, Boscawen, NH. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the William L. Lane Cancer Management Center at Caritas Holy Family Hospital, 70 East St., Methuen, MA 01844.