WORCESTER__ Richard A. “Shorty” Lareau, 80, of 830 Grafton St., died Sunday Dec. 21 in West Side House, 35 Fruit St., Worcester.
He leaves his wife of 53 years, Alice L. (Morin) Lareau; a son, Richard A. Lareau, Jr., and his wife Debbie of Nanpa, Idaho; a daughter, Susan D. wife of John Sperling of Newport, R.I., a brother, Clarence Lareau of Worcester; seven grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. Seven brothers and two sisters predeceased him. He was born in Worcester, son of Napoleon and Anna (Gaulin) Lareau and lived here all his life.
Mr. Lareau worked as a spray painter 30 years for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dept. of Public Works. He retired in 1988. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific.
He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and was a member of the parishioner group that worked to save St. Joseph’s Church from closing.
The funeral will be held on Saturday Dec. 27 from DIRSA-MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton St., with a Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, 35 Hamilton St. Entombment will be private in Notre Dame Cemetery Mausoleum. A calling hour will be held on Saturday Dec. 27 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Restoration Fund, 5 Whitman Rd., Worcester, 01609.