Francis George Pelletier

DANVERS – Mr. Francis "Frank" G. Pelletier, 91, of Danvers MA, passed peacefully on March 18th, 2024 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA, with his family at his side.

Frank was born in 1932 to Florence (Gagnon) and Raoul Pelletier in Salem, MA.  He grew up in Peabody and lived most of his life adult life in Salem, MA, until moving to Middleton in 2015, and Danvers in 2021.

He is predeceased his wife Marcia (Lee) Pelletier of 44 years, and Joan (St. Charles) Pelletier, mother of his children, and wife of 18 years. He is also predeceased by his daughters, Nicole Pelletier and Catherine Julien.

He is survived by his three daughters, Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski and her husband Joseph of Nashua, NH; Paula Lemiesz and husband, George Knowlton of Salem, MA; and Regina Penney and husband, Kevin, of Hampton, NH; two step-children, Karen Harrington of Boston, MA, and James Juengst of Arizona; and his loyal brother, Paul Pelletier of Salem.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family, affectionately known as Dad, Daddy, Daddio, Pepere, Grampy, Frank, Fran, Francis, Dubba. One of Frank’s phrases was “family together”, as any and every family gathering was treasured, especially the monthly breakfast at New Brothers Restaurant in Danvers where family members from Maine, NH, and MA to gathered and shared in a special occasion or just be together. The family would pull together tables, taking over the restaurant to fit our very large group of 15-20 members. The louder the group the happier he became. He never sat at the head of the table, rather the middle so he would not miss any conversation or antics of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He grew up on the chicken farm his parents bought to raise and sell chickens and eggs in south Peabody. This story was his favorite to entertain his guests, caretakers, and fellow residents at his assisted living facility. He enjoyed explaining how the chickens were butchered and prepared to sell. He would tell the story of how his father developed a machine to remove the feathers from the chickens and always ensured to include all the details of the de-feathering which were quite unpleasant.

He was a graduate of St. Joseph Grammar and High School in Salem, MA, where he learned to speak, read and write French fluently.

He worked for many years at United Shoe Machinery Corporation (aka “The Shoe”) as a Machinist, at General Electric in Lynn, and finally the Commonwealth Gas Company, where he met his bestie, “Billy” Monahan, who remained a good and loyal friend until his death.

He was raised Catholic and remained deeply spiritual and practiced his Catholic faith to the fullest. He ardently supported his step-grandson, Rev. Mr. Matthew Harrington on his path to becoming a priest.

He was a member of the Richelieu Club of Salem, dedicated to celebrating all French-speaking countries. For 30 years, he was a member of the Toastmasters International club in Peabody. He rose to leadership positions throughout the years. He helped teenagers and adult build confidence by teaching public speaking skills.

Frank was a terrific story teller and ready with a one-liner or a quip, always perfectly timed, and sometimes quite snarky. His deadpan sense of humor took many off guard. Recently, a resident was returning to the assisted living after a hospital stay on a stretcher, he quipped as he rolled by, “great now enough people for a hockey game” loud enough for all to hear. The reaction was mixed.

Mostly, he never forgot his prayers he said the rosary until the very end last day of his life. Together we pray to celebrate his life and memory.  AMEN

ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral Mass will be held at Ste. Anne’s Church, Jefferson Ave., Salem, Friday, April 12th at 10:30 A.M. (Please meet directly at church) Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours at O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (rte 62) DANVERS, Thursday April 11th from 5 to 7 P.M. Donations may be made to Care Dimensions/Kaplan Hospice House at www.caredimensions.org or to St. John’s Seminary at  www.sjs.edu Or to St. Jude's Hospital at www.stjude.org  - To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com 

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