EDWARD R. DESAUTELS

     Edward R. Desautels, of Holden, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, at the age of 91. Born in Leicester on August 7, 1925, Ed was the son of the Edgar and Loretta (Supernault) Desautels and lived most of his life in Worcester until moving to Holden in 2001.

Ed attended Worcester schools and enlisted in the Unites States Navy at the age of 18. He honorably served his country during World War II from 1943 to 1945 in the in the European–African–Middle Eastern Theaters. He retired from Frem Corp in Worcester where he worked for many years. He previously worked at Massachusetts Wholesale Drug Company and Melville Shoe Corp, the parent company of Thom McAn in Worcester.

After returning home from the war, Ed met and married the love of his life, Claire A. Cloutier of Worcester. They were married in 1948 at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Worcester and would spend the next 53 years residing on Clover Street until Claire’s death in 2001.

He is remembered as a kind, generous and selfless man. Ed could light up a room with his infectious smile and rarely met someone that wasn’t soon considered his friend. Above all, Ed cherished moments spent with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, and will leave an indelible mark of unconditional love.

Ed’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Summit Eldercare in Leominster and the Pulmonary ICU at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, for their love and unwavering compassionate care.

He is survived and will be lovingly missed by his daughter, Donna M. Dinoto and her huband, Daniel of Worcester, son, Steven K. Desautels and his wife, Miriam of Athol, daughter, Sharon Oberg and her husband, Steven of Holden; his brother, Armand Desautels and his wife, Jeanette of Worcester; 14 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; nephews and nieces. Besides his wife Claire, Ed is predeceased by and joins his family that have gone before him, including his infant daughter, Debra Jean, a great granddaughter, Kaylen Claire Gilman, and three brothers, Russell, Kenneth, and Lawrence Desautels.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Ed’s life with his family from 5 to 7pm on Tuesday, December 20, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Wednesday, December 21, at St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson, MA. Interment will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ed’s name to Summit Eldercare, 55 Cinema Blvd., Leominster, MA 01453.