Leo F. Dalbec, Jr.

Leo F. Dalbec, Jr. 59, of Leicester passed away peacefully Friday, October 9th 2009 in his home surrounded by his beloved family. Leo was born March 16th 1950, in Whitinsville MA. one of four children of Leo F. Dalbec, Sr. and Helen R. (Beaudoin) Dalbec, He grew up in Uxbridge, graduated from St. Mary's High School in Milford and has lived in Leicester for the past 33 years. Leo is survived by his devoted wife and partner of 40 years, Jean F. (Fox) Dalbec; a brother, Robert H. Dalbec and his wife Nadine of Uxbridge, two sisters, Pauline H. Morris and her husband John of Mendon and Lucille F. Barry and her husband Paul of Whitinsville; his father- and mother-in-law, Cliff and Mary Rivet of Whitinsville; three uncles, Wilfred Beaudoin and his wife Blanche of Linwood, Leo Beaudoin of North Uxbridge, and Bruce Christiansen of Uxbridge; an aunt, Noella Beaudoin of Milford; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by aunts Leona LeBlanc, Florence Beaudoin and Lucille Christiansen; uncles, Joseph "Teddy" Dalbec and Henry Beaudoin; a niece Kimberly Dawe and grandniece Mary A. Dupuis. Leo worked many years as a machinist for various manufacturing companies including, Whitin Machine Works, GE Telecron in Ashland, Henry L. Hanson Company and Indiana Screw Machine Products in Worcester, Inner-Tite Corporation in Holden, and United Screw Machine Products in Worcester, from which he retired in 2007, due to illness. Leo was a member of Christ the King Church. He was an avid golfer who enjoyed his many golf trips to Myrtle Beach with his friends, traveling with his wife to the Caribbean, playing cribbage, poker and Black Jack, bowling, racquetball, ice hockey, water skiing, and softball, and times spent with his friends at Art's Diner. He was a great fan of the Boston Red Sox and Patriots and considered himself lucky to see the Red Sox and Patriots win championships. In his earlier days, Leo also enjoyed his motorcycles. He was an avid WW II and Vietnam War history buff. Although he never served in the service, he had a particular soft spot for war veterans, especially after losing a childhood friend in the Vietnam War and would go out of his way to shake the hand of a soldier and thank him or her for the sacrifices each has made for us on the behalf of freedom. During the past 16 months of Leo's life there were frequent hospitalizations, at UMass Memorial and most recently at St Vincent Hospital. He received excellent care from the doctors and nurses at both facilities. Leo's funeral will be held Tuesday, October 13th from the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St with a Mass at 10:30 am in Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant St. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends and relatives are invited to visit with the family Monday, October 12th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the UMass Memorial Hospice, 650 Lincoln St 01605 or the Massachusetts Veterans Shelter, 60 Grove St Worcester. The Dalbec family would like to especially thank Drs. Daniel Massarelli, and Steven Davis for the care, kindness and compassion given to Leo during these past years of his illness, and the UMass Memorial Hospice, for the compassionate care and dignity they provided Leo during these past 3 weeks especially his nurse ,Paulette, and home health aides Tracy and Shelly. We would also like to thank his nurse, Carrie, of UMass Home Health for her care and kindness before Leo entered hospice, and the many family and friends who helped Leo during this time, both with their presence and their prayers. Your acts of kindness have been a constant source of comfort.