Carleton E Dufresne, Jr.

Carleton E. Dufresne, Jr., of Venice, FL, formerly of Worcester, Leicester and Sutton, MA, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at Rose Monahan Hospice Residence, just a day shy of his 95th birthday. Carleton was born in Worcester, MA, one of seven children, born to the late Carleton E. and Helena L. (Packard) Dufresne, Sr.  Carleton was a graduate of St. Stephen’s High School in Worcester. He entered the United States Navy in 1941 where he served in World War II on the USS Buck and USS Wyoming.  In recent years, Carleton was the last known survivor of the USS Buck DD420.  During his service, Carleton was the proud recipient of an American Theatre of War Campaign Ribbon, European-African-Middle East Campaign Ribbon, and a Purple Heart which was awarded on February 28, 1944.  He was granted honorable discharge from the US Navy in August, 1945.  Carleton then worked for the US Postal Service as Postmaster for over forty years, retiring in 1984.  He was a member of the American Legion for 71 years, affiliated with former American Legion Post 323 on Grafton Hill, American Legion Post NO-VEL 159 and VFW Post 8118, both in Venice, FL. He was a lifelong participant of Catholic faith, in recent years as a member of St. Mark’s Church in Sutton.  Over the years Carleton’s favorite pastimes were golfing and fishing, but most of all he enjoyed spending quality time with his family and friends. Carleton’s beloved wife of 61 years, Ruth D. (Kiaulens) Dufresne passed away on January 23, 2004.  He is survived by his son, Michael W. Dufresne and his wife Joanne of Sutton; daughters Carleen Morin of Birmingham, AL; Pamela E. Caputo and her husband Robert of Spencer; Deborah Dufresne-Coll and her husband Dennis of Douglas; and Lisa Dufresne of Sarasota, FL; a brother Robert Dufresne of Bradenton, FL; two sisters, Jane Marino and her husband Jack of Millbury, and Marie Daige and her husband James of Leicester; nine grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his son Carleton E. “Duke” Dufresne, III; three brothers, Donald, Raymond “Butch”, and Bernard “Lefty” Dufresne, and his son-in-law Robert Morin. Calling hours will be held on Monday, October 9th from 4-7pm at the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester.  Procession departs Mercadante Funeral Home at 10am, Tuesday, October 10th, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am at St. Mark’s Church, 356 Boston Road, Sutton, MA, followed by a military tribute of honor.  A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider contributions be made in memory of Carleton to The Rose Monahan Hospice Home, 10 Judith Rd., Worcester, MA. 01602 or Veterans Inc., 69 Grove Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, online at veteransinc.org. To share your thoughts, memories or prayers with his family, please visit Carleton’s personal guestbook at www.mercadantefuneral.com.