Nicholas F. “Fred” Codner
...retired cook on the Boston Commercial Fishing Fleet; 88
TEWKSBURY - Nicholas F. “Fred” Codner, age 88, a retired member of the New Englandcommercial fishing community, died Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 10, at his home, after a lengthyperiod of declining health. He was the husband for 55 years of Margaret B. (Latta) Codner, whodied on Jan. 29, 2003.
He was born in Torbay, Newfoundland, on Feb. 26, 1915, one of 12 children of the late Robert E.and Anne (Goss) Codner. He was raised in Torbay, and emigrated to the Boston Area at theclose of WWII. He had lived in Tewksbury since 1952.
In his younger years, he worked as a carpenter, lumberjack, and owned his own restaurant.
During WWII, he served as a high seas mariner and ship hand with the Canadian MerchantMarines, working convoys across the North Atlantic.
In 1968, he retired as a cook for Boston’s Commercial fishing Fleet. He began a second career asa maintenance man and custodian for the Kamen-Avidyne company in Burlington. His secondretirement was at the age of 74.
He was a lifelong catholic, and was an active and daily Mass participant at St. William’s Church inTewksbury. He served the church as an altar server and usher at the weekly Sunday 9:00 a.m.Mass. He was a member of St. William’s Holy Name Society, and the Fr. Coppen’s Council, K ofC, 4336 in Tewksbury.
He is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law; Noel and her husband Dennis St Aubin of SantaClara, CA, Sheila and her husband Paul Annino of Rindge, NH, Kathleen Cameron ofMerrimack, NH, Margaret and her husband Robert Gibbons of Tewksbury, Noelle and herhusband Frank Ruggiero of Lowell, three sons and daughters-in-law; Nicholas Jr. and his wifeCynthia (O’Brien) Codner of Londonderry, NH, William and his wife Cheryl (O’Connell) Codnerof Billerica, Robert and his wife Lisa (Beaumier) Codner of Tewksbury; two sisters, MaryMcDonald of St. Johns Newfoundland, Ethel LaMonica of Winnipeg, Canada; and lifelong friendof 80 years, Dave Morey of Billerica; 22 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
He was also brother of the late Jen Baird, Rose Culletin, Gert Robinson, Bess Probert, JesseCodner, William Codner, Robert Codner, Jim Codner, and James Codner.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 14, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury. Burial was in Tewksbury Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Oblate Father’s Infirmary Fund, P.O. Box 419,Tewksbury, MA 01876 will be appreciated.