Salem: Rene P. St. Pierre, Sr., age 87 of Salem, died Monday, April 11, 2011 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was the devoted husband of Nancy M. (Baldini) St. Pierre, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage.
Born and raised in Salem and Danvers, he was the 13th child of the nineteen children of the late Joseph and Beatrice (Deschene) St. Pierre. Rene was a decorated veteran of World War II, having served several major campaigns in the South Pacific with the Army. Following the war he worked for 20 years for the Salem Beverly Water Supply Board. Following his retirement he proudly worked as sexton for the Henny Penny School at the First Church in Salem Unitarian. Rene worked hard to support his family and continued to work until several weeks ago when his health began to seriously decline.
Rene was known around town for driving his truck with the big Pere / Papa sign to support his grandchildren and their friends in their sporting events. He frequently chased down home run balls to return the ball to the player that had hit the ‘homer.’
In addition to his wife Nancy, he is survived by his son R. Paul St. Pierre Jr., and his wife Edwina of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, his daughter, Paula Barry of Salem, his grandchildren, Rene P. St. Pierre, III and his partner Renee Pretsky of Miami, FL, Noelle (St. Pierre) Cruikshank and her husband Colin of Calabash, NC, Daniella (Barry) Broadbent and her husband Nathan of Peabody, Nancy Barry of Salem and great-grandchildren Travis and Colby Broadbent of Peabody. He is also survived by his brother Richard “Jimmy” and his wife Anne Marie of Salem, sisters, Jeannette Maurice, Rose Ouellette and her husband Roger all of Salem and Terry St. Pierre of Florida and Ipswich, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Lucienne Dupuis, Alice Viselli, Louise Rosetti, Eva Castronova, Anita Collins, Cecile Fournier, Beatrice St. Pierre, Albert, Leo, Raymond, Roland, Arthur, Robert and Roger St. Pierre.
Arrangements: Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral service on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 11;30 A.M. in the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Rt. 114 / 1-A] Salem. Visiting hours are: Wednesday, 4 to 7 P.M. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For additional information and guestbook, please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com