Roger P. West, Sr.

Roger West Sr., 77, of Worcester MA, passed away Friday June 15^th in his home surrounded by loved ones.

Roger was born in Franklin, Massachusetts, and was preceded in death by his father George E. West and his mother Bertha (Elgar) West.  He was a graduate of Commerce High School and has lived in Worcester, Massachusetts all of his life.

 Roger leaves his beloved wife, soulmate and best friend of 56 years Gail L. West (Burdett), his son Roger P. West Jr and his wife, Karen West (Pane), their three children; James West, Joshua West, Jared West; Linda L West and her two children; Zachery Leighton and Thomas Leighton; Penny G. West and her fiancé Alvah “Darin” MacDonald; two brothers, William West and his wife Helen of Florida; Allen West and his wife Ruthanne of Florida;  a sister Edna Griffin of Worcester;   several nieces nephews and cousins, all of whom he loved dearly.  He also leaves   his closest friends, Jorge “George” Ramirez, Alvah “Darin” MacDonald and Paco Valentine. He was predeceased by his sister, Jaqueline Wiggins, of Texas.

Roger was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He received a donor heart transplant in March of 1999, which gave him the opportunity to watch his family and friends grow and gave his family and friends memories that they will forever cherish. Roger retired from Pepsi Cola Distributors after 28 years and spent the rest of his life as property owner. He loved spending time at home playing cards and in his backyard oasis, surrounded by family and friends. A great man he was, loved and treasured by many. 

Roger’s family would like to add an extended sincere thank you from all of his family and friends to Mass General Hospital for the exceptional care and support over the last twenty years.  The family also would like to thank all of the kind nurses at St. Vincent’s Hospital for all they did and a special thank you to his primary care physician, Dr. Mark Schrank.  Their professionalism and caring attitude was unsurpassed  in our experience  and we are forever grateful.

Calling Hours for Roger will be on Friday, June 22, from 4 p.m. until his Funeral Service begins at 7 p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers family request that donation in Roger’s memory be made to the Massachusetts General Hospital Transplant Center, donations can be made online to: https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/  or to the American Heart Association,    7272 Greenville Ave.  Dallas, TX 75231 or to the Friendly House Inc, 36 Wall Street, Worcester, MA 01604, Attention: Business Office.

To share your thoughts  and memories of Roger, please sigh his personal guestbook at  www.mercadantefuneral.com