Robert F. "Bob" Elie, Age 81
Bob Elie passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 26th following a long battle with cancer and COPD at Lowell General Hospital with his daughter Rhonda by his side. He was the widower of Sandra "Sandie" A. (Wojas) Elie who died in 2019, with whom he was married for 60 years. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on January 25, 1941, the son of the late Henry W. Elie and Blanche Jeannette (Piche) Elie.
Bob graduated from Saint Louis School and attended Lowell Trade School where he studied upholstery and played basketball. In his youth, he worked on his grandfather's Golden Dairy Farm, as a painter for the rides and signs at Salisbury beach and as a mechanic. Bob retired years ago after working as an R & D prototype machinist at Tyco International for more than 40 years.
In his younger years, Bob could be found on his snowmobile in the winter, playing a mean game of horseshoes in the summer or in his garage all while toting a Budweiser, puffing on a cigarette and wearing his signature cut-off jeans. He also enjoyed chocolate, powdered donuts, jogging, working on cars, attending car races, walks on the beach and word searches. Sandie was never far from his side.
He is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Darlene J. Jarvis of Redding, CA, Rhonda S. and Stephen Chauncey of N. Chelmsford, MA, Justine D. and Peter N. McCartin of Fort Worth, TX; one son and daughter-in-law, Henry J.R. and Darlene Elie of Dothan, AL; ten grandchildren, Christian L. Stover, Alayna N. McDonough, Sherilynne Pagan, Michael Schulze, Max Schulze, Brittany L. Allison, Brianna M. Allison, Seamus A. McCartin, Garrett Munsey and Rebecca C. Elie; six great-grandchildren, Jose Pagan, Josh Pagan, Jacob Pagan, Paxton Schulze, Isaac Schulze, Bosley Schulze; one sister, Lorraine Woods of Dracut, MA; four sisters-in-law, Donna Rourke of Lowell, MA, Gail Wojas of Tewksbury, MA, Linda Paquette and her husband Andre of Dracut, MA and Sharon Gingras and her husband Philip of Salem, NH; one brother-in-law, John Wojas and his wife Lynn of Daytona Beach, FL and many nieces, nephews, cousins.
Bob was also the father of the late Jolene Elie, brother to the late Gertrude Aubuchon and brother-in-law to the late George Woods, Ralph Aubuchon, John Rourke, Stanley E. Wojas, Jr. and Michael Wojas.
The family sincerely thanks Merrimack Valley Hospice and Senior Helpers of Westford for their wonderful care and support given to Bob and his family.
Per Bob's wishes there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society; by mail: P.O. Box 2247, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or online at www.cancer.org/involved/donate or by telephone 1-800-227-2345.