Charles N. Chapman
May 30, 1913 — March 12, 2011
WINCHENDON – Charles N. “Pete” Chapman, 97, of 547 Central Street, Winchendon, died peacefully Saturday afternoon, March 12 th in Broadview Assisted Living, Winchendon, his residence for the last seven years. He had his mind, wit and wisdom until the very end.
He was born in Fitchburg on May 30, 1913, son of the late Charles Henry and Georgianna (Lemire) Chapman and was a resident of Winchendon for most of his life. Pete attended White School and at the age of 8, was sent to St. Anne’s Orphanage in Worcester with his brother Edward by his single parent mother to live for 4 years.
Pete proudly served in the United States Navy during World War Two. He served aboard the USS Admiral W.S. Benson (AP-120) and traveled to Bombay, India; Marseilles, France, through the Panama Canal and other places.
Pete worked for Kingsbury Corporation in Keene, NH as assembly foreman. He retired on May 23, 1978 at the age of 65 after 23 years of employment on Charles Chapman Day, declared by Kingsbury President Charles Hanrahan. He previously drove a limousine for George and Blanche St. Pierre, drove a bakery delivery truck for his uncle Edward Lemire of Brousseau and Lemire’s Bakery, worked at White Brothers and worked for 15 years at Baxter D. Whitney’s. While working at B.D. Whitney, he posed with another worker for the carved mural hanging above the Postmaster’s Office Door in the Winchendon Post Office.
Pete was recently known for building many dollhouses at Broadview, which were raffled to raise money for the resident activities fund, and appearing in Broadview advertisements. His model and doll house building actually started in his early retirement years. He built his first elaborate Victorian dollhouse from a kit in 1988 and took him a year to build. Pete played the piccolo in the American Legion Band in his earlier years and was known as Piccolo Pete. He also learned to play the organ. Pete was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. He enjoyed winters in Florida for two months for about ten years and York Beach summer vacations for many years.
Pete was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and a life member of Eugene M. Connor Post 193 American Legion and Winchendon Historical Society.
His wife, Jeannette E. (Caouette) Chapman, whom he married May 29, 1937, died in 1990. He is survived by his caregivers and “adopted stepchildren” Marc Brouillette of Winchendon, Paul Brouillette and his son Joel of Arlington; Lisa Brouillette Holland and her husband Stephen III of Mashpee; his niece Carol Chapman Cloutier and her husband Joseph of Simi Valley, CA, their children and grandchildren and his godson Michael Danielson and his wife Kathleen of Jamestown, NY and their daughters, Michelle Danielson Arnone and her husband Dr. Eric of West Seneca, NY and Colleen Danielson of Quincy, MA. He is also survived by his first cousin Hugh “Mickey” Chapman and his wife Annie of Gardner, their four sons, grandchildren, and great granddaughter; his first cousin Larry Chapman, his daughter and his wife Francina of South Portland, ME; first cousin William Lemire of Winchendon and his cousin’s daughter Cheryl Metivier Bailey and her husband, Jim of Evans, GA and their children Richard and Kimberly Bailey, who called him “Uncle Pete” and his fellow residents and staff of the Broadview Assisted Living Center. Pete was also predeceased by his dear friend Irene Brouillette, with whom he lived, in 2002 and his brother, Edward “Toots” Chapman in 2004.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 19 th at 12 Noon in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Calling hours in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon are Friday, March 18 th from 6 to 9 P.M. and Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. A Legion Service will be held at 7 P.M. Friday evening, March 18 th .
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Winchendon EMT Ambulance Fund, PO Box 125, Winchendon, MA 01475, Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440 or to Broadview Assisted Living Residents Activities Fund, 547 Central Street, Winchendon, MA. 01475.