Joseph A. LaRochelle

Lowell - Joseph A. LaRochelle, a resident of Lowell, died on September 17, 2014 at the Sunny Acres Nursing Center. He was 90.
Joseph was the beloved husband of the late Victoria V. (Payeur) LaRochelle with whom he celebrated 65 years of marriage at the time of her death in 2013.
He was born in Lewiston, Maine on July 26, 1924, a son of the late Alphonse and Eva (Grant) Larochelle.
Joseph was a member of the Greatest Generation, having served with the US Army in WWII. He was a paratrooper serving with the 101st Airborne Division. Joseph's campaigns included Operation Dragoon in Southern France, Rome, Arno, Ardennes Counter Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal from the government of France and a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the war as well as four Bronze Stars and the ETO Ribbon.
Joseph was employed at the EN Rogers VA Hospital in Bedford for 30 years.
He loved to spend time at his summer home in Alfred, Maine where he enjoyed fishing, hunting and feeding the chipmunks.
Joseph and Victoria loved to go antiquing, find yard sales and attend flea markets.
He was handy and enjoyed woodworking. Joseph could also be found feeding stray cats in his back yard. He enjoyed watching movies of the old west and WWII.
Most of all his family recalls his story telling ability. Joseph loved to tell stories, especially of WWII.
Joseph's family would like to thank the exceptional staff at Sunny Acres Nursing Center for their care and kindness during their father's stay there.
Survivors include his three children, Linda Gendron and her husband Omer, Brenda Garabedian and her husband George all of Lowell, John LaRochelle of Tewksbury; five grandchildren, Jennifer Wilson and her husband Tim, Amy Hudzik and her husband Michael, Rebecca Delarosa and her husband Felix, Andy and Rachel Garabedian; nine great grandchildren, Taylor Gendron, Sadie Hudzik, Teagan Hudzik, Hunter Hudzik, TJ Wilson, Jack Wilson, Grace, Felix, and Ruby Delarosa; and a dear friend Roy Hawes of Lowell.