Raoul August LaPointe

RUTLAND - Raoul August LaPointe, 93, of 240 East County Road, Rutland, 712 Republic Court, Deerfield Beach, Florida, and formerly of 144 Spring Street, Winchendon, died early Wednesday, October 26th in the Hospice on Coes Pond, Worcester, following an illness. He was born in Winchendon on March 22,1912, the son of George L.M. and Georgianna V. (Laprise) LaPointe and resided there until moving to Rutland in 2004 to make his home with his daughter. He spent the winters in Deerfield Beach with his other daughter. Raoul was born the second of eighteen children and was a descendent of an ancestor the helped populate the present country of Canada. His original ancestor, Nicholas Audet dit LaPointe, arrived in Canada in 1663 with the first bishop of Canada. His grandfather, George and his wife, Azeline and family, immigrated to Winchendon in 1906 to work in the White Brothers Mills in Winchendon Springs. He was a devoted father and husband, who worked hard to provide a great life for his family. He was a master cabinet maker, employed by the Heywood Wakefield Company and Nichols and Stone Company, both in Gardner. He also owned his own custom woodworking business for many years. Some of those pieces his children cherish in their homes today. His wife of 63 years, Mildred M. (Alber) LaPointe, died in 1996. Raoul enjoyed reading, working in his workshop, gardening, golf and watching his Red Sox. At age 83, he became an avid golfer and was well known at the "Links" Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida and played at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida. He enjoyed traveling with his beloved daughters, frequent trips to the casino and spending many days with Gary and Lynn at their Highland Beach home in Florida. His constant smile, sense of humor, and twinkle in his eyes will be missed by all. Those, who even met him briefly, were positively affected by their encounter. Raoul is survived by two daughters, with whom he lived, Kathreen M. LaPointe of Deerfield Beach, Florida and Charlene M. LaPointe and her partner, Pat Hassett of Rutland; four sons, John A. LaPointe and his wife, Lucille, Richard T. LaPointe and his wife, Elizabeth, all of Winchendon, R. Donald LaPointe of Manchester, N.H., his daughter-in-law, Barbara LaPointe of Vermont, and Gary D. LaPointe and his wife, Lynn of Mineola, NY; a brother, Thomas G. LaPointe of Sarasota, Florida; five sisters, Anita M. Lord, Theresa M. Girard, Rita N. Saveall, all of Winchendon, Germaine E. Barton of Hinsdale, NH, and Adrienne M.B. Alber of Middletown, RI; 17 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, 5 step greatgrandchildren, 2 great greatgrandchildren, 3 pet grandchildren, Katie Ann, Katie Elizabeth and Annie, and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by six brothers, three sisters, one grandson and one great grandson. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 31st from the Snow-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 A.M. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery, Winchendon, Calling hours in the funeral home will be Sunday, October 30th from 6 to 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice on Coes Pond, 10 Judith Road, Worcester, MA. 01602 or to Elder Services, 411 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA. 01602. www.snow-ladeau.com