Harold George Lacadie Sr. Obituary (1931 - 2013)

Harold George Lacadie Sr., 81,died Friday February 22, 2013 after a lengthy battle with dementia. Harold was born over his father's store in Stillwater, Maine, July 30, 1931, the son of Francis LeRoy Lacadie and Rose Yvonne (Lavoie) Lacadie. At the age of nine, his family moved to French Island where he grew up in a community of loving aunts, uncles and cousins. He graduated from Old Town High School, class of 1950. At a young age Harold worked as a shoe shiner. He picked beans in West Old Town, worked various jobs at the Strand Theater, and was a clerk and photographer for Graffam Sporting. In later years he serviced and installed appliances for Whittier's Firestone, repaired radios, televisions, and stereos at home, while maintaining a job at Penobscot Shoe, where he retired after thirty seven and a half years. Harold served in the Naval Reserves and was trained in electronics. He was recruited by a new company because of his electronic skills but turned down the offer because he was not familiar with the “new” company called IBM. Harold was very proud of his Franco-American heritage. He and other residents of the island researched, designed and wrote the history of French Island, Nos Histoires de l'lle. He helped many people trace their genealogy and established an on-line pictorial history of Old Town that can be viewed on the City of Old Town website. He lectured at the University of Maine, Dartmouth College, and in various classrooms in the area. He was recognized by the Old Town Historical Society, the City of Old Town, and the city of Quebec for his contributions. He was an active member of the Old Town Museum and the Knights of Columbus. Harold's children and grandchildren recall some of their favorite memories; “DO YOU REMEMBER”.... the radio repair room, Santa hanging by a noose from the ceiling fan, the PA system installed in his car, his welcome mat “HAROLD SAYS GO HOME”, Canoe City CBer's, the police badge he flashed to neighborhood kids saying he was going to take them to jail, his reputation as “One Beer Harold” at the Shuffle Inn, Dad tapping the telephone poles each spring hoping for syrup as a joke, and his photographic contribution to the Penobscot Times; “A Moment in History, Do you Remember”. To encompass all of Dad’s interest and loves in a short paragraph is impossible. His devotion and love of his family is foremost. He nurtured, loved, and taught his children, grandchildren nieces and nephews to love, be inventive, strong, and independent. Everyone one learned quickly that if he loved you he teased you. Harold is survived by his wife of sixty years Dawn Pelletier Evans Lacadie, his five children and their spouses; Debora and Michael LaBree, Judith and Jonathan Hill, Harold Jr. (Butch) and Theresa Lacadie, Dana and Katherine Lacadie, Janet and Rupert Lyon. Twelve grandchildren Lucas, Catherine and Bradley LaBree, Tucker and Sam Hill, Bailey Hill Means, Mark, Daniel and Sarah Lyon, Hannah and Tyler Lacadie and Christian Lacadie. Two Great-Grand Daughters Livianna Stevens LaBree and Charlotte Rose Lyon. Harold is survived by two sisters Norma Jean Pettorossi and Germaine Nadeau, sister-in- laws Marjorie Lacadie and Thelma Catrambone, brother- in-law Roger Parent, and many nieces and nephews and cousins, whose relationships he cherished. He had a special bond with his cousins Norman Veilleux, Donald Voteur, and Albert Michaud, He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard Lacadie and sisters Dorothy Boucher, Lorraine Tidwell and Patricia Parent and, brother-in-law Thomas Nadeau, Albert Tidwell, George Boucher, Leonardo Pettorossi (Pete) and Joseph Catrambone and his very close cousin Norman Veilleux, and close friend Jimmy Roy. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation at Birmingham Funeral Home 438 Main St Old Town on Monday February 25th, 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6pm to 8pm; and Tuesday February 26th, from 9:00am until time of departure for church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11AM Tuesday at Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, Old Town. Spring Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Orono. A reception for the celebration of Harold's life will take place immediately following the funeral in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Alzheimer's Association P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011 or visit www.alz.org Notes of condolence may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com