F. Richard Ladeau

WINCHENDON – F. Richard Ladeau, 85, a longtime Winchendon funeral director, died peacefully at his residence Saturday morning, December 17, 2022, with his family at his side.

He was born in Winchendon on December 27, 1936, son of the late Frank H. and Bernadette M. (Larochelle) Ladeau.  Dick was a 1954 graduate of Murdock High School and a 1958 graduate of the New England Institute of Funeral Directing, Boston.  He purchased the former Snow Funeral Home in 1958.

A licensed funeral director, Dick owned and operated Snow-Ladeau Funeral Home for 48 years before selling the business and semi-retiring in 2007.  For the next several years, Dick continued to work as a funeral assistant at Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, Winchendon and Boucher Funeral Home, Gardner.  He will be remembered as an honest, caring professional, who was loved by the families for whom he cared and served.

Active in civic and fraternal organizations, Dick was a member of over 50 years, past president and longtime treasurer of Winchendon Kiwanis Club.  He was also past president of Murdock Alumni Association and former treasurer for 21 years of Murdock Alumni Scholarship Fund.  He was a life member of Winchendon Historical Society, a member and former chaplain of Sons of American Legion Eugene M. Connor Post 193.  Additionally, Dick was a past president of the former Winchendon Hospital Corporation, a member of the Winchendon Grange for over 50 years and former member of Worcester West Pomona Grange.

Dick was an over 50 year member and Past Master of Artisan Lodge of Masons, a member of Aleppo Temple Shriners in Wilmington for over 50 years and a member of Gardner Shrine Club.  He was an original member of Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Committee and former vice president of Friends of Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.

He leaves his wife of 33 years, Phyllis M. (Pernoski) Padeni Ladeau; two sons, William G. Ladeau of Leominster and Brian R. Ladeau and wife Sheila of Baldwinville; two stepchildren Tracy A. Padeni of Augusta, GA and David Padeni and wife Lorna of Jaffrey, NH; two grandsons, Todd R. Ladeau and Brad M. Ladeau of Baldwinville; two step grandchildren, Jeremiah Padeni of Rindge, NH and Jenna Taylor of Knoxsville, TN and two step great grandchildren.  His first wife, Barbara J. (Bartlett) Ladeau, died in 1988.

Funeral services will be private, in accordance with Dick’s wishes.

Memorial donation may be made to Winchendon Senior Center, 52 Murdock Avenue, Winchendon, MA 01475.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.stone-ladeau.com

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Douglas M. Stone, directors