Edmond W. Dery Jr.

Born in Pawtucket RI, the son of French Canadian immigrant parents, Edmond W. Dery Sr., a skilled silk factory machinist, and his wife Victoria Melancon Dery, a talented milliner, he is predeceased by his brother Paul H. and sister Rita E. Dery. Edmond developed an early love of music through his father, a talented pianist. He received much of his boyhood schooling at the Marist Maryvale Seminary in Bedford MA, later attended Bryant College in Providence and served as a technical supply sergeant in the Army during WWII. He later married his wife Pauline S. Brais of North Attleboro MA, where he settled with his family and was employed by his father-in-law at the A.R. Brais Lumber Company. He co-founded a local credit union with the sort of practical helpfulness and generosity to family, friends and community that became his signature throughout life.

An avid fisherman who made front page news with a trophy bass he caught off Cuttyhunk Island, Ed finally secured his lifelong dream and relocated the family to Cape Cod in 1962. He dropped anchor at his beloved Hinckley Lumber Co. in Hyannis, where he made many friends in the building industry and was respected for his novel ideas, simple ingenuity and uncompromising integrity. He joined Kiwanis, was appointed Chairman of Catholic Charities in 1970, co-partnered Cape Cod Rentals ‘n Realty, was commended by the Red Cross for the volume of his blood donations, and worked with the Saint Vincent De Paul Society as a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church. Family outings featured harvesting every variety of berry, fish and shellfish to include blueberrying in West Barnstable, where he picked up to 50 quarts a season right up to his 93rd year. In his later years, he continued very active, travelled internationally, to achieved some local notoriety after apprehending a pickpocket in the Paris Metro. He made regular ‘pilgrimages’ to Vermont, where he visited with his children, picked apples, gathered potatoes, and helped boil maple syrup at the Smith Farm in Shrewsbury VT.

Edmond is survived by his beloved Adelheid L. Weber of Osterville, his devoted companion of many years, his three children Louise M. Dery-Wells of Middleboro, Elizabeth M. Dery of Townshend VT, John W. Dery of South Newfane VT, his two grandchildren Madeleine C. and Stephen E. Dery, and three nephews Paul H., Brian D. and Russell P. Dery, all of Cape Cod. Like his own children were James N. Martis of South Newfane VT, E.J. Jaxtimer of Osterville, Ross Ares of Gardner MA, Robert A. Weber of Golden, CO and his sister Miriam, both children of Adelheid Weber.

In his memory, and in lieu of flowers, Edmond would suggest donations to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society in Hyannis. A funeral mass is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday November 5th at Saint Francis Xavier Church, South Street Hyannis. The family will intern his ashes at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Attleboro Falls MA at a later date. The Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home online condolence page will feature many pictures from his life.