Joseph Leo Bourque, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 5, 2011 at Mary Immaculate Health Care Services in Lawrence.
He was born in Lawrence on May 5, 1928 to the late Helen (Keegan) (Bourque) Van Doorne and Joseph Leo Bourque. He was also the step-son of the late Andrew (Lefty) Van Doorne.
Joe was educated at St. Patrick’s Grammar School and Lawrence High School. In his teen years, Joe worked at Keegan’s Market and then worked forty years at Courier Citizen/NADCO in Lowell, MA. Joe proudly served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1948. He also gave many years of service to St. Patrick’s Parish in Lawrence as sexton and member of the Holy Name Society. After his retirement in 1989, he enjoyed spending his time with his large and expanding family. Joe’s favorite activity was anything involving his grandchildren. The Bourque family would like to express their deep appreciation for the outstanding care from the staff at the Mary Immaculate Health Care Services.
Joe was the patriarch of a very large, loving family which includes his loving wife of sixty years, Theresa Gertrude (McCormack) Bourque, along with their ten children and their families: Joseph L., Jr. and Diane of Ipswich, MA; Kathleen O’Keefe of Lawrence, MA; Daniel and Judith of Reading, MA; Ann Marie and Ann Pritchard of Sandown, NH; Martin and Alda of Londonderry, NH; Mary and David Desrosiers of Lawrence, MA; Michael and Jo-Anne of Wakefield, MA; Barbara and Michael Beauchesne of Lawrence, MA; Timothy and Susan of Plaistow, NH; and Christopher and Silvania of Plaistow, NH. His sister Mrs. Eleanor Campbell of Manchester, NH. Joe’s family includes thirty-one grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. As well as several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his beloved grandson, Ryan Bourque, and also by his sister, Mrs. Claire Lynch, North Andover, MA.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to call on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 8th, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts. For online condolences and other information please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.
His funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 9th, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Patrick Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Burial will follow in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in North Andover, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Bourque Family Scholarship Fund to benefit children at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, 136 Water St., Lawrence, MA 01841.